Watch Paparazzi

Football manager Jose Mourinho spotted wearing Hublot

Jose Mourinho was photographed during his tenure as Manchester United manager wearing the Hublot Big Bang Unico Bi-Retrograde, reference 413.NM.1127.RX — a watch that sits well above the brand's standard Big Bang entry points and signals a deliberate choice rather than a generic sponsorship pull.

The 413.NM.1127.RX is built around the HUB1220 calibre, an in-house automatic movement developed entirely at Hublot's Nyon manufacture. The 330-part movement operates at 28,800 vph, delivers a 72-hour power reserve, and replaces conventional subdial chronograph architecture with a bi-retrograde complication: both the running seconds and a date indication travel along curved arcs before snapping back to zero — a mechanism that demands considerably more engineering than a standard column-wheel chronograph. The 45mm case is rendered in satin-brushed titanium, keeping weight modest despite the diameter, and the open-worked dial ensures the retrograde mechanism remains the visual centrepiece.

The Bi-Retrograde variant occupies a specific collector niche within the Big Bang family. While the standard Unico chronograph is widely available and heavily produced, the bi-retrograde complication is a lower-volume reference that attracts buyers who want mechanical differentiation rather than mere brand recognition. Titanium references like the .NM. designation tend to appeal to those who prioritise wearability over precious-metal prestige — a practical choice for someone spending long hours on a touchline or in a dugout.

Mourinho has been publicly associated with Hublot for years, an alignment that makes contextual sense. The brand markets itself aggressively through football partnerships — it has served as official timekeeper for FIFA World Cup events — and Mourinho's combative, high-profile identity maps cleanly onto Hublot's positioning. That said, the Bi-Retrograde reference is not a basic ambassador freebie; it represents a step into genuine horological complexity within the catalogue.

At UK list pricing of approximately £20,000, the 413.NM.1127.RX sits in a competitive bracket against offerings from TAG Heuer's Carrera Tourbillon and mid-tier Breitling complications. On the grey market, titanium Big Bang Unico references have historically traded at modest discounts to retail, reflecting solid but not explosive secondary demand. For collectors, it remains an underappreciated technical piece in a brand often judged by aesthetics alone.