Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Ander Herrera spotted wearing Hublot

Catching a glimpse of fine horology at 30,000 feet is a Watch Paparazzi specialty, and this inflight snap of Ander Herrera — taken during what looks like a Manchester United squad trip circa 2014–2016 — delivers exactly that. The Spanish midfielder is wearing a Hublot Classic Fusion Skeleton in King Gold on a black alligator strap, its skeletonised dial immediately identifiable by the distinctive open-worked bridges and the warm rose-gold case glinting against his wrist.

The watch in question is almost certainly the Hublot Classic Fusion Skeleton King Gold, reference 515.OX.0180.LR, in the 45mm configuration. Hublot introduced the Classic Fusion Skeleton to demonstrate that the brand could compete on movement finishing as well as materials innovation. The HUB1300 manually wound skeleton movement — visible in full through the open dial — beats at 28,800 vph, offers a 42-hour power reserve, and is decorated with Côtes de Genève on the bridges. The case is machined from Hublot's King Gold, an 18k rose gold alloy enriched with platinum particles to increase surface hardness and reduce oxidation, a genuinely useful metallurgical innovation rather than mere marketing.

For collectors, the Classic Fusion Skeleton occupies an interesting middle ground in the Hublot catalogue. It lacks the extreme sports-watch cachet of the Big Bang but carries stronger crossover appeal with the traditional watch community thanks to its more restrained 45mm tonneau-adjacent case and the legibility of the skeletonised movement layout. The black alligator strap with deployant clasp is standard issue and keeps the wrist presence sophisticated rather than ostentatious.

Herrera was one of several Manchester United players during the Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho eras with a well-documented taste for high-end Swiss watches. Consistent with his low-key, workmanlike public image, he gravitates toward pieces with technical substance rather than diamond-set showpieces. The Classic Fusion Skeleton fits that profile precisely — it reads as a serious watch to anyone who knows what they're looking at.

At retail, the 45mm King Gold Classic Fusion Skeleton carries a list price in the region of $28,900 USD. On the secondary market, examples trade at moderate discounts to retail given Hublot's strong production volumes, though King Gold references tend to hold value better than steel equivalents within the brand's lineup.