Time flies: Hublot King Power Usain Bolt

[Michael West]

Usain "Lightning" Bolt, the world's fastest man, now has a Swiss watch named in his honour and featuring his image. Hublot, for whom he is an ambassador, has developed a special model in close consultation with the champion, to mark this Olympic year.
In addition to the watch's many references to the sprinter, it features an interesting hallmark: the strap is made from exactly the same leather as the shoes he wore when he broke the world records in Beijing in 2008.

Usain Bolt, who turns 25 this year, recently opened his season in style by completing his first individual 100 metres in just 9.82 seconds at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, as he prepares to defend three titles in London this summer: the 100, 200 and 4X100 metres. "It's a good start, I would say. It's certainly better than last season. I feel better than last year, so I'm definitely happy with myself", said Bolt, who began his 2011 season with a time of 9.91 seconds at a meeting in Rome on the 26th May.



He wanted his watch to be a fusion of the symbols representing everything he holds dear. Starting with his silhouette, THAT pose - his unique signature - stylised and immediately recognisable in an anthracite grey transfer on a black background at 9 o'clock in the centre of the movement's permanent small seconds counter.

Another symbol… the choice to appear at the centre of the permanent chronograph. The chronograph movement features a central 60-second hand and a 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock. A 12-hour chronograph counter sits at 6 o'clock, and is decorated with a touch of green in a nod to the colours on the flag of Bolt's beloved home: Jamaica. A date window at 4.30 completes the design.

The 48 mm-diameter watch, created in micro-blasted ceramic, is predominantly black, with gold - Bolt's own colour and that of his lucky shoes - very much in evidence, adding a further symbolic touch.

The flange features a 2N gold powder coating and the strap is made from exactly the same gold-coloured synthetic leather as his shoes. This is stitched onto black rubber - a Hublot signature - to guarantee comfort, strength and flexibility.

Specifications

Reference: 703.CI.1129.NR.USB12
Series: 250 pieces numbered from 01/250 to 250/250

Case: "King Power" - Diameter 48 mm in micro-blasted black ceramic
Bezel: Black ceramic
6 black PVD H-shaped relief titanium screws
Crystal: Sapphire with grey minute track transfer
Interior/exterior anti-reflective coating
Bezel: Lugs Black composite resin
Lateral inserts: Black composite resin
Case-back: Micro-blasted black ceramic
Silhouette of Usain Bolt on sapphire case-back
Crown: Black PVD titanium with black rubber insert
Push-pieces: Black PVD titanium with black rubber inserts
Screws: Black PVD titanium
Water resistance 10 ATM or approximately 100 metres

Dial: Matt black, circular satin-finished flange with 2N gold coating
Satin-finished and black nickel-coated indexes with black SuperLuminova™
Transfer of Usain Bolt's silhouette in meteor grey at 9 o'clock and 2N gold powder Hublot logo
Hands: Satin-finished and black nickel-coated with black SuperLuminova™
Movement: Calibre HUB4100
Mechanical chronograph with automatic winding and central seconds hand. Small seconds at 9 o'clock
No. of components: 252
Jewels: 27
Date: Date window at 4.30
Power reserve: Approximately 42 hours

Strap: Adjustable in black rubber
Made from the same gold-coloured synthetic leather as Usain Bolt's shoes.
Clasp: King Power folding buckle in black micro-blasted PVD titanium
Micro-blasted black ceramic decorative plate

[TAG_Lawyer]

Am I the only one that thinks it's awesome the wristband is made from the same type of leather that's on his shoes?