Kobe Bryant...Hublots Newest     Brand Ambassador

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Los Angeles Lakers star basketball player Kobe Bryant is officially an Hublot watch brand ambassador. The Swiss watch brand (part of the LVMH luxury group) sells watches averaging about $20,000 – $30,000 in price and also recently became the official timekeeper of the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe’s deal with Hublot is unrelated to the fact that the watchmaker also sponsors his team. This week in Los Angeles,Hublot announced their new relationship with the popular athlete as well as a new limited edition watch dedicated to Mr. Bryant.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Hublot is perhaps unique among luxury brands for being among the first to work closely with black people as brand ambassadors and supporters. According to Hublot Chairman Jean-Claude Biver, this was not an intentional tactic, but rather a mere rejection of typical norms and prejudices present in the typically highly conservative luxury industry. A rumored Hublot Jay-Zwatch is in production, and Hublot has for several years penetrated the world of American sports in ways that their competitors never did. Historically, the only sports you saw with luxury watch brand affiliations were tennis and high-end auto racing, with the exception of more niche pursuits such as polo. Hublot began on a more international scale by supporting soccer (football) teams and players, and later began to work with basketball. They currently sponsor both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat. The next step is perhaps American football, but according to Hublot’s CEO, the brand will focus more on the music industry and its talent.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          To celebrate Kobe’s new Hublot ambassadorship, the brand has released a 250 piece limited edition watch specially designed for Kobe Bryant. The timepiece takes the name “Hublot King Power Black Mamba” – in honor of Kobe’s on-court nickname. The purple and 18k gold accented timepiece is 48mm wide in a black ceramic and titanium case. Inside the watch is a Swiss automatic chronograph mechanical movement with a 60 minute central chronograph counter.

                                                                                                                                                                                                 In honor of the “Black Mamba,” the limited edition watch comes on a black python snakeskin strap over a rubber base, and includes a black snake figurine on the dial. The dial also contains Kobe’s “24″ jersey number. The back of the watch has a print of Bryant’s signature on the sapphire crystal exhibition case back window.