Athlete Usain Bolt spotted wearing a Hublot

Usain Bolt has long been Hublot's most recognisable brand ambassador, and sightings of him wearing his own signature piece — the Big Bang Unico Yellow Gold Usain Bolt Edition, reference 411.VS.1189.VR.USB16 — serve as a reminder that this is not merely a marketing arrangement. The eight-time Olympic gold medallist genuinely wears the watch, and the edition itself was built around his personal aesthetic preferences and competitive legacy.

The Hublot Big Bang Unico ref. 411.VS.1189.VR.USB16 measures 45mm in 18-carat yellow gold, a case material that gives the watch a warm, commanding presence on the wrist. The dial is fully skeletonized, revealing the HUB1242 UNICO movement beneath — a column-wheel, flyback chronograph calibre developed entirely in-house at Hublot's Le Locle manufacture. The movement beats at 28,800 vph, delivers 72 hours of power reserve, and features a lateral clutch system that enables smooth, instantaneous engagement of the chronograph function. The push-pull crown system, a Hublot hallmark, keeps the profile clean. The rubber strap features a gold deployant buckle consistent with the case metal.

The Big Bang Unico platform, introduced in 2011, represented a turning point for Hublot. Prior generations of Big Bang relied on heavily modified ETA and Valjoux ebauches, drawing persistent criticism from purists. The HUB1242 answered those critics directly — a credible manufacture movement in a brand that had previously been defined more by materials innovation than horological depth. The yellow gold Bolt edition, capped at 100 examples, adds collectability through genuine scarcity rather than artificial exclusivity.

For Usain Bolt, the relationship with Hublot predates this reference by over a decade. He became a brand friend ahead of the 2012 London Olympics and was formally named a brand ambassador shortly after. Unlike many athlete endorsements, Bolt's association with Hublot has been sustained and visible across multiple product generations, lending the partnership unusual authenticity.

On the secondary market, the Hublot Big Bang Unico Yellow Gold Usain Bolt Edition 411.VS.1189.VR.USB16 commands attention from both watch collectors and sports memorabilia enthusiasts. The 100-piece limitation, combined with Bolt's enduring global profile, keeps grey-market values firm. UK list price is £31,600, positioning this squarely in serious collector territory.