Footballer John Arne Riise spotted wearing a Hublot

The setting is a barbershop mirror selfie, but the wrist tells a more interesting story. John Arne Riise, the Norwegian full-back who powered Liverpool to Champions League glory in Istanbul in 2005, captures his Hublot Big Bang Chronograph 44mm in King Gold on camera — a watch he has been photographed with on multiple occasions, suggesting genuine attachment rather than a one-off loan.

The reference in question appears to be the 301.PX.1180.RX, Hublot's Big Bang 44mm in their proprietary King Gold alloy — an 18-karat rose gold composition enriched with platinum to improve scratch resistance and deepen the warm hue. The 44mm case pairs the polished King Gold bezel with a black ceramic fixed bezel ring secured by six H-shaped titanium screws, one of the most recognisable design signatures in modern Swiss watchmaking. The black skeletonised dial hosts three chronograph subdials and is paired with a black structured rubber strap, completing the monochromatic contrast that made the Big Bang a red carpet staple through the late 2000s and into the 2010s.

Inside beats the HUB4100 self-winding chronograph movement, a COSC-certified calibre operating at 28,800 vph with a 42-hour power reserve. The column-wheel and horizontal clutch architecture deliver a refined chronograph action — serious horology beneath the bold exterior that critics once dismissed as purely aesthetic.

From a collector standpoint, the King Gold Big Bang 44mm chronograph occupies a curious middle ground: widely produced enough to be accessible on the secondary market, yet genuinely well-made and historically significant as the model that saved Hublot from obscurity. It polarises purists but commands loyalty from its owners, Riise clearly among them.

Riise's watch choices have consistently leaned toward bold, high-legibility sports-luxury pieces that complement an active lifestyle. The Big Bang's 100-metre water resistance and robust rubber strap make it a practical daily wear even for someone accustomed to the physical demands of professional football. At a grey-market price sitting comfortably below its original retail, this remains one of the more attainable entries into Hublot's King Gold universe.