Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Carles Puyol spotted wearing Hublot

Carles Puyol, the defensive colossus who captained FC Barcelona to multiple La Liga titles and UEFA Champions League triumphs and lifted the FIFA World Cup with Spain in 2010, was recently spotted wearing the Hublot Big Bang Unico Bi-Retrograde, reference 413.NM.1127.RX — a watch that rewards closer inspection far beyond its bold exterior.

The 413.NM.1127.RX is built around the HUB1137 calibre, an entirely in-house automatic movement developed by Hublot's manufacture in Nyon. Running at 28,800 vph with a 72-hour power reserve, the movement's standout complication is its bi-retrograde display: both the minutes hand and the small seconds hand travel along their respective arcs before snapping instantaneously back to zero, a mechanism that demands careful engineering of the jumping springs and cam systems involved. The titanium case measures 45mm — standard Big Bang territory — and the open-worked dial gives direct visibility of the movement's architecture beneath sapphire crystal on both sides.

The Big Bang Unico line has been central to Hublot's credibility argument since the brand committed to full in-house production. Where early Big Bang references relied on modified base movements, the Unico family, launched in 2011, signalled a genuine manufacture capability. The Bi-Retrograde variant adds horological substance to a collection that critics sometimes dismissed as aesthetics-first, earning it a more serious collector conversation than many of its stable-mates.

Puyol has long been associated with Hublot, which has cultivated deep roots in football through partnerships with FIFA and numerous elite clubs and players. As a Barcelona legend, Puyol sits comfortably within that sponsorship ecosystem, but the choice of the more mechanically nuanced Bi-Retrograde rather than a straightforward chronograph suggests genuine engagement with what the watch actually does.

At a UK list price of approximately £20,000 — translating to roughly $25,000 USD — the Hublot Big Bang Unico Bi-Retrograde 413.NM.1127.RX sits in the mid-tier of the Big Bang range. Grey market pricing tracks close to retail on titanium Unico references, reflecting steady but unspectacular secondary demand. For buyers drawn to mechanical complexity in a sport-luxe package, it represents solid value within the Hublot catalogue.