Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Mesut Özil spotted wearing Hublot

Arsenal's Community Shield win over Chelsea gave watch spotters more than a trophy to talk about. In the post-match atmosphere, German international Mesut Özil was photographed wearing the Hublot Big Bang Ferrari White Ceramic Carbon, reference 401.HQ.0121.VR — a limited-edition collaboration piece that draws the eye as effectively as any of Özil's through-balls.

The ref. 401.HQ.0121.VR sits within Hublot's Ferrari collection, born from a partnership first announced in 2011 that combined the Swiss brand's material innovation with Scuderia Ferrari's motorsport identity. This particular variant runs a 45mm white micro-blasted ceramic case — a technically demanding material that Hublot has invested heavily in mastering — with carbon fibre inserts on the bezel and caseback. The dial carries Ferrari's prancing horse motif and a skeletonised architecture that exposes elements of the movement beneath, finished in tones that complement the ceramic exterior. Power comes from the HUB1242 UNICO manufacture flyback chronograph movement, an in-house calibre with a column wheel, lateral clutch, and approximately 72 hours of power reserve.

Collector interest in Hublot's Ferrari limited editions has remained steady, particularly for ceramic-cased variants where the production numbers are tightly controlled. With a ceiling of 500 pieces, the 401.HQ.0121.VR occupies a genuinely scarce position within an already niche segment. The UNICO movement also adds technical credibility that some earlier Hublot Ferrari references — powered by outsourced ebauches — could not claim. For collectors who prioritise manufacture calibres, that distinction matters.

Özil has long been associated with Hublot, a brand that courts footballers with the same strategic intent it courts Formula 1. His wearing of a piece from the Ferrari collaboration is consistent with Hublot's broader ambassador ecosystem, where sport, speed, and luxury converge. Off the pitch, the German playmaker's taste in watches has leaned toward statement complications rather than understated dress pieces — the Big Bang Ferrari fits that profile precisely.

At UK RRP of approximately £20,000, the 401.HQ.0121.VR sits in the upper tier of the Big Bang range. On the secondary market, white ceramic limited editions from this Ferrari series tend to hold value reasonably well, with clean examples trading near or slightly above retail depending on condition and box-and-papers completeness.