Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Jay-Z spotted wearing Hublot

Jay-Z was photographed wearing his personally co-designed Hublot Classic Fusion 'Shawn Carter' in 18kt yellow gold during a candid street sighting alongside Beyoncé. The watch, visible on his left wrist, is one of only 250 examples ever produced — making it among the most exclusive celebrity collaboration pieces in modern Swiss watchmaking.

The Classic Fusion 'Shawn Carter' sits on a 45mm brushed 18kt yellow gold case, instantly recognizable by its H-shaped screws on the bezel — a Classic Fusion hallmark — and the distinctive champagne gold sunbrushed dial. The centrepiece is a hand-engraved panther skeleton motif executed directly on the dial surface, rendered with fine detailing that references both Jay-Z's personal iconography and Hublot's appetite for artistic dial work. The black alligator leather strap with yellow gold deployant clasp keeps the wrist presence luxurious without veering into sportswear territory. Inside runs the HUB1710 skeleton movement, a self-winding calibre offering 42 hours of power reserve.

From a collector's standpoint, the 'Shawn Carter' collaboration carries legitimate horological merit beyond its celebrity association. Hublot and Jay-Z announced the partnership in 2013, with the rapper taking an active role in the design process — a credibility point that separates this piece from simple branded endorsements. The panther motif was chosen by Carter himself, and the dial engraving was executed by hand in Hublot's La Chaux-de-Fonds atelier. With 250 units split across gold variants, secondary market availability is genuinely constrained.

Jay-Z's relationship with Hublot predates this collaboration. He became a brand ambassador in 2012, but the 'Shawn Carter' edition elevated that commercial arrangement into something more personal. Wearing his own signature watch in public — even in a low-key grey t-shirt setting — signals a genuine affinity rather than contractual obligation.

At auction and on the grey market, examples have traded in the £20,000–£25,000 range in the UK, consistent with the original retail positioning. The combination of limited production, 18kt gold case weight, and the cultural cachet of the Carter name ensures these pieces hold value firmly.