Footballer Christian Benteke spotted wearing a Hublot

Christian Benteke, the powerful Belgian centre-forward who was one of the Premier League's most feared strikers during his time at Aston Villa, was photographed wearing a Hublot Big Bang 44mm in steel, reference 301.SX.130.RX — a watch that sits at the very foundation of what Hublot has become as a brand over the past two decades.

The Big Bang ref. 301.SX.130.RX is the archetypal expression of the collection. Its 44mm polished and satin-brushed steel case follows the now-iconic six-screw bezel design first introduced by Jean-Claude Biver and designer Marc Lemenager in 2005. The dial is executed in skeleton-effect black, and the integrated black natural rubber strap remains one of the most copied design details in contemporary watchmaking. Inside sits the HUB4100 automatic movement, a 25-jewel calibre offering 42 hours of power reserve and visible through a sapphire caseback. Water resistance is rated to 100 metres.

The Big Bang's arrival marked a genuine inflection point for Hublot. Before 2005, the brand was respected but niche, best known for its natural rubber straps on gold cushion cases. The Big Bang repositioned Hublot as a luxury sports watch manufacturer competing directly with Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille for high-profile clientele — including footballers, who adopted it faster than almost any other demographic. The steel variant in particular democratised the collection relative to its gold and titanium siblings.

Benteke's affinity for the Big Bang fits a well-established pattern. During the mid-2010s, the Hublot Big Bang was arguably the dominant watch in Premier League dressing rooms, worn by players across clubs and nationalities. For Benteke, who was at the peak of his powers at Villa Park — scoring 49 goals in 101 appearances — the watch signals both taste and timing.

On the secondary market, the 301.SX.130.RX trades in a relatively accessible range for a Swiss luxury sports watch of this calibre, making it a logical entry point into serious Hublot collecting. Its retail price has historically hovered around £8,000 in the UK market, and grey-market pricing typically tracks close to or slightly below retail for this steel reference, reflecting steady rather than speculative demand.