Athlete Usain Bolt spotted wearing a Hublot

Usain Bolt was spotted on his wrist with the Hublot King Power Unico Ceramic Black Magic, reference 701.CI.0170.RX, following one of the defining performances of his career — a 200m World Championship gold medal that once again put Justin Gatlin in second place. For an athlete who has made Hublot his signature brand, the choice of timepiece was entirely in character.

The King Power Unico Ceramic Black Magic is built around the HUB1240 UNICO calibre, Hublot's fully in-house developed flyback chronograph movement. Introduced in 2011, the UNICO was a landmark moment for the brand, signalling a genuine shift toward manufacture credibility. The movement operates at 4Hz (28,800 vph), delivers a 72-hour power reserve, and is visible through the sapphire caseback. At 48mm in diameter, the King Power case is constructed from micro-blasted black ceramic — a material that resists scratching far better than steel and maintains its matte, monolithic appearance over years of wear. The pushers, crown, and integrated ceramic bracelet all follow the same all-black logic, making the 701.CI.0170.RX one of the most coherent executions of Hublot's "Black Magic" aesthetic.

From a collector standpoint, the King Power generation occupies an interesting position in Hublot's catalogue. It preceded the current Big Bang Unico line and is now discontinued, giving it a degree of scarcity that the more ubiquitous Big Bang references don't enjoy. The full-ceramic 48mm construction is not for the understated collector, but among sport-watch enthusiasts who appreciate bold proportions and serious in-house movements, the King Power Unico holds genuine respect.

Bolt has been a Hublot brand ambassador since 2010, and the relationship has always been rooted in performance and visibility rather than quiet connoisseurship. That said, his repeated choice of technically substantive references — rather than purely decorative pieces — suggests an engagement with the brand beyond marketing obligation. The King Power Unico is a watch worn by someone who understands what's inside the case.

At an original UK RRP of approximately £16,000 (roughly $20,500 USD at period exchange rates), the 701.CI.0170.RX sat at a credible mid-point for a manufacture flyback chronograph in full ceramic. On the grey market today, discontinued King Power Unico ceramic examples trade in a relatively narrow band, reflecting steady but niche collector demand.