Athlete Erik Karlsson spotted wearing a Hublot

Erik Karlsson, the Swedish NHL defenseman long regarded as one of the most offensively gifted defenders in the league, was recently spotted wearing the Hublot Spirit of Big Bang King Gold Ceramic, reference 601.OM.0183.LR — a watch that combines two of Hublot's signature material languages into a single tonneau-shaped statement.

The Spirit of Big Bang debuted in 2014 as a formal departure from the brand's flagship round case. The tonneau shape — borrowed from mid-century dress watch tradition — required Hublot's engineers to redesign the skeletonization architecture entirely, since the HUB1700 movement had to be reconfigured to fill and complement the curved barrel form. The ref. 601.OM.0183.LR houses that manually wound skeletonized caliber, offering a 120-hour power reserve and visible bridges finished in keeping with Hublot's industrial-aesthetic ethos. The 45mm case pairs 18k King Gold — Hublot's proprietary rose gold alloy formulated for improved scratch resistance — with ceramic inserts on the bezel and lugs, creating a two-material contrast that defines the reference visually.

Among collectors, the Spirit of Big Bang occupies a more nuanced position than the standard Big Bang. The tonneau form is divisive — purists either appreciate its retro geometry or find it overwrought — but the King Gold and ceramic combination consistently earns respect for its material integrity. The skeletonized dial, open to the movement, is executed with enough architectural discipline to satisfy enthusiasts who might otherwise dismiss Hublot as brand-driven rather than craft-driven.

Karlsson is a known watch collector with a preference for high-visibility luxury pieces, and the Spirit of Big Bang King Gold Ceramic fits his profile precisely. At the professional sports level, Hublot has cultivated deep ties with football and hockey through ambassador and sponsorship programs, making the brand a natural gravitational point for athletes of Karlsson's standing.

At UK RRP of £28,300, the 601.OM.0183.LR sits firmly in the upper tier of the Spirit of Big Bang catalogue. On the grey market, King Gold ceramic references in good condition trade at modest discounts to retail, reflecting steady but not speculative demand — a collected piece rather than a flipped one.