Watch Paparazzi

Football manager Sam Allardyce spotted wearing Hublot

Sam Allardyce, the straight-talking football manager who led England during their brief 2016 tenure before going on to manage a string of Premier League clubs including West Ham, Sunderland, and Everton, was recently spotted on the wrist with a Hublot Big Bang 'Black Magic' Reference 301.CX.130.RX — a watch that pulls no punches in terms of presence.

The Big Bang 'Black Magic' is one of the purest expressions of Hublot's "Art of Fusion" philosophy. The 44mm case, bezel screws, crown, and pushers are all crafted from micro-blasted black ceramic — a material that offers exceptional scratch resistance, near-zero allergenic reaction, and a matte monolithic aesthetic that sets it apart from the brand's more colourful or precious-metal configurations. The watch runs on the HUB4100 automatic calibre, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a 42-hour power reserve, visible through the ceramic caseback. Water resistance is rated to 100 metres.

Launched as part of the original Big Bang family — itself introduced by Jean-Claude Biver in 2005 and widely credited with repositioning Hublot as a serious luxury sports brand — the 'Black Magic' has remained one of the most consistently popular references in the range. Its all-ceramic construction appealed immediately to collectors seeking the sporty DNA of the Big Bang without the ostentation of gold or the cold utility of bare steel. The reference has held steady demand over the years, never quite achieving the feverish secondary market premiums of limited editions, but maintaining a loyal following among buyers who appreciate understated aggression.

Allardyce fits this watch's profile well. Known in football circles as "Big Sam," his management style — pragmatic, direct, occasionally controversial — mirrors the no-nonsense character of the Big Bang 'Black Magic.' It is not a subtle watch, but it is a considered one, and wearing the full-ceramic configuration rather than a bejewelled or rose-gold variant suggests a degree of restraint within an otherwise loud aesthetic.

The Hublot Big Bang 'Black Magic' Ref. 301.CX.130.RX carries a UK list price of approximately £13,215, translating to roughly $16,500 USD at current exchange. On the grey market, examples in good condition trade at or slightly below retail, reflecting healthy but unspectacular secondary demand — making this a genuinely accessible entry point into Hublot's ceramic Big Bang family.