Hublot’s King Power Usain Bolt Celebrates the Universe’s Fastest Man

By Seth Semilof | August 17, 2012

Swiss watchmaker Hublot’s investment in Usain Bolt as a brand ambassador paid multiple dividends over the course of last week as the world watched Bolt successfully defend his title as “Fastest Man in the World.”

Over two billion people watched last Saturday as the Jamaican sprinter clinched his place in history by winning gold – in two consecutive Olympic games – in the 100 m and 200 m dash as well as the group effort that earned him a win in the 4 x 400 m relay. To commemorate Bolt’s victory, Hublot announced their limited edition King Power Usain Bolt yesterday.

The 48 mm case of microblasted black ceramic features a dial that measure hours, minutes, seconds and the date. A 30-minute chronograph can be found at the 3 o’clock position and a 12-hour chronograph at o’clock position, all powered by an automatic movement.

A silhouette of Bolt in his signature victory pose in anthracite grey can be found at the 6 o’clock position, amid gold and green elements that accent the dial. Bolt’s silhouette is repeated on the back of the case, emblazoned on a window that offers a glimpse of the mechanics of the piece.

The watch’s novel strap consists of “exactly the same” gold-colored synthetic leather that composed Bolt’s shoes in the 2008 Beijing games, painstakingly stitched onto a black rubber strap for comfort. The King Power Usain Bolt is water resistant to a depth of 330 feet.

Born to a family grocers in rural Jamaica, the 6’5” Bolt excelled at cricket in his youth, and has often said if he hadn’t become a sprinter he would be playing cricket. He has overcome several injuries in his career, including a foot injury he obtained from a violent car accident, in which a seat is credited for saving his life, as well as those of his passengers.

Hublot CEO betrayed his excitement when talking to reporters, invoking the laws of physics in his praise, claiming that Bolt is “the fastest man since the big bang.”