Athletes have always led the way in terms of fashion. It’s no mystery that watches companies want to showcase their products, and what smarter way to do so than with a few of the best talent and sports. Michael Jordan’s global popularity drove up demand for his Air Jordans in the 1990s. Athletes’ impact, however, can extend far beyond sports footwear and art supplies. Today, many sports stars have formed alliances with luxury watch brands. Athletes drive patterns and demand in the luxury watch world, whether they simply enjoy collecting watches or sign official contracts. The following are just a few of the best athletic partnerships in the watch world, whether by contract or simply adoration.
1. Panerai – Jeremy Shockey
The former American football tight end looks so happy on a stolen picture taken in 2008 where he was touching a bald man’s head with his right hand while on his left is a Panerai watch. Panerai optimizes and wraps up the movements to a nice extent. In its quality materials, plain dials are magnificent. Naturally, high-end quality comes at a price, and Panerai watches are extremely costly. The high prices are just valid and it makes many watch collectors Panerai enthusiasts adorn its authentic watch symbols and “grails.”
2. Omega – Michael Phelps
With this collaboration, Omega bet on the perfect sportsman. Michael Phelps entered the Rio Olympics as the most decorated Olympian in history, and his tally now stands at 23 gold medals and 28 overall. With Omega’s supremacy at the tournament, it stands to reason that the Olympic Games timer would team up with the most powerful athlete.
The Seamaster line was initially conceived for waterproofing, so it was an excellent choice for Phelps. The Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial Chronometer is a classy yet operational wristwatch that honors the watchmaker’s diving heritage. The model has a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and a glamorous black dial with a date window at 3 o’clock.
3. Rolex – Roger Federer
The most effective Swiss tennis player fulfills the largest Swiss watch product. It’s nearly unbearable to follow a tennis match without even seeing the Rolex logo somewhere, so the joint venture with Basel-born Roger Federer seems to be one of the most established in sports, going back to 2012.
4. Hublot – Usain Bolt
We can’t leave out the fastest man, Usain Bolt. There’s a justification he’s nicknamed “Lightning Bolt,” and it’s not just along with his ideal last name; he’s lightning fast. He has remained at the front of the pack, winning 19 gold medals at the World Championships and Olympic Games.
5. Tudor – David Beckham
David Beckham is a great footballer well-known for his tireless work on the field, now devotes his time to philanthropic work, particularly for charities that focus on educating individuals. Beckham, as a brand ambassador for Tudor luxury watches, is frequently seen wearing a Black Bay Bronze divers watch or a Black Bay Chrono.
6. Audemars Piguet – Serena Williams
The renowned tennis player first collaborated with Audemars Piguet in 2014, and her Royal Oak Chronograph in Rose Gold is her most recent purchase. The watch, which has a stunning diamond bezel, was on the tennis star’s wrist when she received her 22nd Wimbledon title. The legendary sports watch has a white rubber strap to comply with Wimbledon’s white dress code, and it is also a top-quality wristwatch.
7. Richard Mille – Rafael Nadal
Nadal’s hand cramped up during the men’s singles final of the 2018 French Open. The cameras zoomed in on the bright orange watch chained to his wrist as he received first-aid. Everyone’s brows wrinkled as they heard about the RM 27-03. This tourbillon is a work of architectural art. It weighs only 20 grams and can withstand 10,000 Gs of force, making it ideal for a global tennis player. And the one-of-a-kind skeletonized bridge creates the impression of a front-facing bull and it’s incredible.
8. TAG Heuer – Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo is the world’s second-highest-paid olympian, according to Forbes. He makes a lot of money from endorsement deals, and TAG Heuer is one of them.
The TAG Heuer Formula 1 Cristiano Ronaldo CR7 Edition, which debuted at Baselworld 2015, showcased a black-and-gold color scheme inspired by a sports field. The chequer-patterned dial features a large “CR7” text at three o’clock and three circular registers. Despite having a watch custom-made for him, Ronaldo frequently wears the Carrera Heuer-02T on his wrist when he is not on the field.
In A Nutshell
Beautiful, sports-themed luxury watches are not only for sports stars. The limited-edition watches named after the brand’s chosen model or ambassador were bought by watch enthusiasts who were just admirers of those players and not really into sports. If you want to op your favorite celebrities’ timepieces, you can simply check out The Watch Company online, and order some pieces for yourself!
