Pelé, now 70, is considered the greatest soccer player to ever have lived.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pelé’s birth name) also coined the phrase “the beautiful game,” a fantastic description of the sport that brings so much joy to so many all over the world.
Pelé in one of the eye-catching photos promoting Hublot’s role as a main sponsor of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil
With the last World Cup having just taken place two years ago in Pelé’s home country of Brazil, and the European Cup 2016 just weeks from its start, this is the perfect time for Julien’s to stage “Pelé: The Collection” auction, which will be held in London on June 7-9, 2016.
This three-time world champion’s small collection of watches, comprising mainly gifted timepieces, is unfortunately neither extensive nor especially noteworthy. And, thankfully, I did not spy an Hublot among the catalogue’s offerings – meaning he still has the one he surely was gifted in 2014 by the watch sponsor of that year’s world championship (see Goooooaaaaaallll! Hublot Colorfully Kicks Off With The FIFA World Cup).
Pelé receiving an Hublot Big Bang Unico Bi-Retrograde Chronograph to commemorate the 2014 World Cup
However, if you’re a big soccer fan and you like watches, you may be able to take home a once-in-a-lifetime watch at a very reasonable price.
Pelé remains the top scorer of the Brazil national soccer team with 77 goals in 91 official appearances, but you could really score here if you play your, uh, paddle right.
Julien’s Auctions believes this sale to be the most important sports auction in history; the collection offered includes more than 2,000 items in a three-day auction in London.
“Having donated a significant portion of my collection to the city of Santos, I have decided to allow fans and collectors to own a piece of my history as well,” the Brazilian national treasure is quoted as saying. “I hope they treasure these artifacts and share my story with their children and generations to come. I will also be donating a portion of the proceeds from the auction to Pequeño Principe, the largest pediatric hospital in Brazil.”
Here is an overview of the timepieces for sale.
Pelé’s Rado Wristwatch Diastar Magic
Lot number 563
Estimate: $300-$500 / £210-£350
Rado Diastar Magic, lot 563 in Julien’s “Pelé: The Collection” auction
This Rado Diastar Magic features one of the early sintered tungsten carbide bezels surrounding what is probably a stone dial. This oval bezel is what gave the timepiece the word “magic” in the name: it could hardly be scratched.
This day-date wristwatch from the 1970s is most likely powered by an ETA 2824 variation. It comes on a two-tone bronze-colored and stainless steel bracelet.
Omega Seamaster
Lot number 564
Estimate: $600-$800 / £420-£560
Omega Seamaster, lot 564 in Julien’s “Pelé: The Collection” auction
This is an Omega Seamaster once owned by Pelé. The watch unusually features a depiction of a man wearing an Arab headscarf on the dial. The black strap is stamped “Omega Swiss Made” in gold lettering, which may mean that he never wore it.
Rado Voyager GT
Lot number 1507
$600-$800 / £420-£560
Rado Voyager GT, lot 1507 in Julien’s “Pelé: The Collection” auction
This is a Rado Voyager GT wristwatch gifted to Pelé by the Austrian Football Confederation when Brazil’s national soccer team played an international friendly match against Austria on July 11, 1971. It is engraved on the case back in Portuguese “O Rei du Futebol Pele/ Da Conf. Austriaca al Futebol 11-7-91” (to the King of Football Pele/ from the Austrian Football Confederation 11-7-91). Brazil won the match by a score of 1-0, with Pelé scoring the game’s lone goal.
This watch probably measures 36 x 41 mm and is powered by an automatic ETA Caliber 2798.
Pocket and coin watches
Lot number 561
Estimate: $300-$400 / £210-£280
Samuray coin watch, lot 561 in Julien’s “Pelé: The Collection” auction
This lot constitutes a group of three timepieces owned by Pelé. One is a gold-tone pocket watch signed Mondrian and powered by a 17-jewel movement.
The second is a gold-tone pocket watch signed Paul Perrier, whose dial constitutes a one-dollar coin from 1888.
The third (pictured) is a coin wristwatch comprising a twenty-dollar coin. The watch, by Samuray, is powered by a 17-jewel movement.
Two stainless steel watches
Lot number 562
Estimate: $400-$600 / £280-£420
These two wristwatches owned by Pelé come as one lot. The first watch is an automatic stainless steel Seiko World Time 6117-6400. It is from the early 1970s and its case measures approximately 38 mm.
Seiko World Time and Enicar F45 Incabloc chronograph, lot 562 in Julien’s “Pelé: The Collection” auction
The other is an Enicar F45 Incabloc chronograph with a tachymeter on the dial.
Enicar was founded by Ariste Racine and his wife Emma on October 1, 1913. The second generation, comprising Ariste Jr., the founder’s son, entered the business in 1940. It looked as if Enicar would survive the 1970s quartz crisis without damage, but the breakdown of the Asian market hit the company hard and led to Enicar SA’s insolvency. It declared bankruptcy on July 15, 1987.
Silver pocket watch
Lot number 427
Estimate: $400-$600 / £280-£420
Silver pocket watch, lot 427 in Julien’s “Pelé: The Collection” auction
This is a silver pocket watch and chain gifted to Pelé. The front of the case features a raised relief image of the famous soccer player, while the back features the engraved word “Pelé” with an embossed figure kicking a soccer ball. The dial tells us that it is Swiss made, but not much else.
Henex Wristwatch
Lot number 1561
Estimate: $500-$700 / £350-£490
Henex for FC Zurich, lot 1561 in Julien’s “Pelé: The Collection” auction
This 17-jewel automatic wristwatch was made by Henex (now Roventa-Henex, a private labeler, after a merger in 1972; the company is based in Tavannes, Switzerland). Its dial is marked “Edson Arantes do Nascimento ‘Pelé’ F.C. Zurich F.C. Santos” along with the FC Zurich club’s emblem.
The watch was gifted to Pelé by FC Zurich when his Santos FC team played an international friendly match against the club on June 15, 1968.
Pelé wall clock by Hans Donner
Lot number 321
Estimate: $200-$300 / £140-£210
This plastic wall clock 9 ½ inches in diameter was designed by Hans Donner. It features an image of the continent of South America with a soccer ball background symbolizing a globe. The back of the clock bears the name “TV GLOBO.”
Hans Donner wall clock, lot 321 in Julien’s “Pelé: The Collection” auction
Hans Donner is an interesting designer and worth a closer look. Donner came to Brazil from his homeland of Austria with a multitude of ideas and talent. Shortly after his arrival he began designing various and sundry for the fourth-largest television company in the world at the time, Globo TV. Globo, Brazil’s largest entertainment corporation, also happened to be the main promoter of the South American country’s 500-year anniversary of discovery. One of the company’s celebratory projects consisted of a set of 27 clocks measuring more than fourteen meters in height and eight in width, strategically placed in Brazil’s state capitals as well as national capital Brasilia.
So it’s a good thing that by the time this project took root, Donner had already met former A.H.C.I. watchmaker Bernard Lederer. Donner had already designed the Time Dimension when Lederer saw a picture of it in a watch magazine. Lederer produced it for Donner, and later the revolving disks became the basis for Lederer’s own Blu watches.
When Donner designed the previously mentioned monumental clocks, he naturally reached out to his mechanical partner, Lederer, to take over the direction of this truly gigantic project. The clocks spent three years counting down the time until the celebration on April 22, 2000.
Donner was also responsible for the original logo of Portugal’s first private television station, SIC. He also designs furniture.
1970s Pepsi “Pelé” Logo Clock
Lot number 426
Estimate: $600-$800 / £420-£560
Pepsi clock, lot 426 in Julien’s “Pelé: The Collection” auction
This white plastic wall clock given to Pelé by Pepsi has less of an interesting past than the Donner clock as far as I can tell. In 1973, Pelé signed a contract to partner with Pepsi in an international youth football program. This clock features the Pepsi logo with “PELÉ” replacing the word Pepsi.
Football Association of Singapore pewter wall clock
Lot number 437
Estimate: $500-$700 / £350-£490
Singapore wall clock, lot 437 in Julien’s “Pelé: The Collection” auction
A *battery-operated Seiko pewter wall clock measuring 9 ¾ inches in diameter stamped with “To Pele / With Compliments / From / Football Association of Singapore / 1974” on the back.
*Battery not included.
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How can i buy the omega watch with arab guy picture on dial?