Watch Paparazzi

Cricketer Harbhajan Singh spotted wearing Hublot

Harbhajan Singh, one of Indian cricket's most decorated spinners with over 700 international wickets across formats, was recently photographed wearing the Hublot F1 King Power India Rose Gold — a timepiece as rare as a hat-trick in Test cricket. The casual garden setting, cap pulled low, does nothing to diminish the statement on his wrist.

The Hublot F1 King Power India Rose Gold, reference 703.OQ.1138.NR.FMI12, was released in 2012 to commemorate Formula One's arrival in India with the inaugural Indian Grand Prix at Greater Noida's Buddh International Circuit. Hublot, as an official F1 partner, commissioned this 50-piece rose gold limited edition specifically for the Indian market and VIP clientele. The 48mm case is crafted in 18k King Gold — Hublot's proprietary rose gold alloy with ceramic micro-particles for enhanced scratch resistance — paired with a skeleton dial that reveals the architecture beneath.

The watch runs on the HUB4100 calibre, a COSC-certified automatic chronograph movement with column-wheel mechanism and vertical clutch, delivering 72 hours of power reserve. The skeletonized dial layout features three subdials in the classic chronograph arrangement, with hands and indices bathed in rose gold PVD. The proprietary rubber-lined fabric strap incorporates the Indian tricolor — saffron, white, and green — woven into the lace detailing, a subtle but unmistakable nod to national pride.

For collectors, the King Power India occupies a fascinating niche: it is simultaneously an F1 commemorative, a country-edition piece, and a Hublot Big Bang era artifact. With only 50 examples in rose gold ever made, secondary market appearances are genuinely rare. The ceramic case variant (reference 703.CI.1129.NR.FMI12) was more widely produced, making the rose gold version the trophy pick.

At an original retail of $38,800 (approximately ₹27,79,000), this was never an entry-level proposition. On the grey market today, rose gold King Power India examples command a meaningful premium over retail given their scarcity and the growing appetite among Indian collectors for culturally resonant limited editions. Harbhajan Singh's ownership of this piece feels entirely apt — a champion of Indian sport wearing one of watchmaking's rare tributes to India.