Time stood still when Brazil faced the most shocking defeat in the history of the World Cup! Though many will spend minutes, hours, days, weeks, or even months over-analyzing a situation, we are moving on with a roundup of the special edition watches designed exclusively for 2014 FIFA World Cup. To commemorate the world-class football action and passion, some of the world’s luxury watch makers have launched exceptional football watches. Creating a buzz amongst fans and collectors, brands like Hublot, Bulgari and Parmigiani Fleurier have designed timepieces devoted to the sport, its players, the World Cup and the host country of 2014.
Hublot, the official timekeeper and watchmaker of the FIFA, wowed all the fans of the sport and the watch brand by rounding up the best names from the world of football for their latest campaign Hublot loves Football. The Swiss watch maker has also launched the official watch of the World Cup. The Big Bang Unico Bi-Retrograde Chrono is the first ever Hublot watch with a bi-retrograde function designed specifically to time football matches. Also dubbed, the Soccer Bang, the two retrograde hands at the top of the dial clock the time of each 45-minute half of a match, with extra time included. Moreover the football timepiece is fitted with a convenient jumping date window in the centre of the dial that indicates first half, half time, second half and end of match.
The limited-edition timepiece that pays homage to the game and to the host country, Brazil is offered in two versions – Black Ceramic and King Gold. Powered by a new in-house Swiss made calibre HUB1260 enclosed in 45.5 mm case, each watch features Brazil’s national colours on the dial and the World Cup logo on the sapphire crystal caseback. Only 200 pieces of the Hublot Big Ban Unico Bi-Retrograde Chrono Black Ceramic edition are available for $26,300 each and 100 pieces of King Gold edition for $42,400 each.
Italian fashion house, Bulgari, has unveiled the Octo Bi-Retrograde to honor the sport. It features Carioca yellow, blue and green champlevé enamel dial. Sporting a 43mm steel case with ceramic and rhodium inserts, it is powered by a mechanical self-winding Calibre GG7722 with a 45-hour power reserve. Limited to just 50 pieces, the Bulgari football watch features a jumping hour window at 12 o’clock and retrograde minute and date indicators.
Parmigiani Fleurier, another Swiss watch maker, has joined the league of launching dedicatory timepieces for FIFA World Cup 2014. The Parmigiani Fleurier 45mm Pershing CBF chronograph for men honors Brazil by featuring five green stars at 3 o’clock, which represents Brazil’s five World Cup victories. The watch is available with a yellow, green, blue or white rubber strap, and also comes with an option of an elegant Hermès blue alligator leather strap.
Time is also ticking away as football fans world over are waiting for the 2014 World Cup final which is scheduled to be played at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadum in Brazil on Sunday the 13th July. Which country, Argentina or Germany, do you think will be crowned as the world leader in football for the next four years?
