Watch Paparazzi

Singer Lionel Richie spotted wearing Hublot

Lionel Richie was recently photographed wearing the Hublot Big Bang Black Magic reference 301.PB.131.RX, a monochromatic ceramic chronograph that sits comfortably among the more serious technical offerings in the Geneva manufacturer's catalogue. The sighting adds Richie's name to a long list of musicians and entertainers who have gravitated toward Hublot's bold aesthetic, though this particular reference rewards a closer look than most celebrity watch choices.

The Big Bang 301.PB.131.RX is built around a 44mm case machined entirely from polished black ceramic — a material Hublot brands as 'Magic Gold' only when alloyed with gold, though this variant stays pure ceramic throughout for maximum hardness and a deep, consistent matte-gloss finish. The case pairs with a matching black ceramic bezel secured by six H-shaped titanium screws, one of the most recognisable design signatures Jean-Claude Biver introduced when the original Big Bang launched in 2005. The dial is executed in skeleton-adjacent black, exposing the architecture of the movement beneath.

Powering the watch is the HUB1242 UNICO flyback chronograph calibre, developed and manufactured in-house at Hublot's La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture. The movement operates at 4Hz, offers 72 hours of power reserve, and incorporates a column wheel and lateral clutch — specifications that place it well above entry-level chronograph territory. The flyback function allows the chronograph to be reset and restarted in a single pusher action, a complication historically valued in aviation and motorsport timing.

Lionel Richie needs little introduction as a cultural figure, but his watch choices have consistently reflected a preference for bold, recognisable luxury rather than understated connoisseurship — which makes the technically credible 301.PB.131.RX an interesting selection. It reads as a statement piece while delivering genuine horological substance underneath.

At a UK RRP of approximately £20,000 — translating to roughly $25,000 USD at current rates — the Hublot Big Bang Black Magic 301.PB.131.RX occupies the mid-to-upper tier of the brand's pricing structure. On the grey market, ceramic Big Bang chronographs in this reference typically trade at a modest discount to retail, reflecting healthy but not speculative demand among collectors who prioritise wearability alongside movement quality.