“Football is a matter of life and death, except more important,” Bill Shankly, Scottish soccer player and former manager of Liverpool FC, once said.
And how right he was! This game is so much more than simply a match involving 22 men and a ball. It is an athletic tour de force that brings nations together and inspires the masses. The excitement doesn’t waver, not even for one second – and anything can happen during the 90 minutes a game generally lasts.
Usain Bolt “loves football”: the Hublot ambassador and champion sprinter is ready for the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Over the years, soccer has also been an inspiration for watchmakers (see Top 10 Soccer Watches In Honor Of The FIFA World Cup 2014). Find three new “soccer models” representing three different categories below, ranging from sophisticated elegance to a most creative design to the latest in smartwatch technology.
Konstantin Chaykin Joker Soccer: he did it again – and how much horological fun it is!
The Konstantin Chaykin Joker Soccer is definitely the coolest watch in the game right now: the Russian independent clock and watchmaker has dressed-up his surprise-hit Joker timepiece in honor of the world’s largest sporting event.
As its colors reflect, Chaykin’s soccer-themed Joker is dedicated to the game and his home country.
Konstantin Chaykin Joker Soccer
First introduced in 2017, the Joker – which Chaykin calls the “wristmon” – offers the refreshingly creative approach of displaying time with humor. An homage of sorts to the eponymous villain from the Batman series of comics, the dial of this hilarious timepiece forms a silly face with the time indicated by two googly eyes – pardon me, subdials of course – while the grinning open “mouth” and “tongue” represent a moon phase – this time using a soccer ball as the tongue.
The Joker’s facial expressions constantly change as time passes and the moon waxes and wanes.
The dial is meticulously finished using traditional guilloche patterns: a wavy motif on the main part and a hobnail pattern on the “nose.”
The module that brings the regulator-like displays to life comes from Chaykin’s own workshop and is integrated into an ETA 2824-2 base movement.
An engraved motif in honor of the 2018 FIFA World Cup on the case back of Konstantin Chaykin’s Joker Soccer
In this unusual celebration of the World Cup, the Joker’s eyes take on the form of a soccer ball in the Russian team colors white and light blue.
The burgundy leather strap is stitched with a pattern reminiscent of a soccer ball’s stitching.
Unfortunately, the eleven pieces of this limited edition are already sold out. However, Chaykin offers custom variations of the Joker upon request.
You might also enjoy Why I Bought It: Konstantin Chaykin Joker.
For more information, please visit www.chaykin.ru.
Quick Facts Konstantin Chaykin Joker Soccer
Case: 42 x 13.7 mm, bronze
Movement: automatic ETA 2824-2 with Chaykin module, 4Hz/28,800 vph frequency, power reserve 38 hours
Functions: hours, minutes, moon phase
Limitation: 11 pieces (sold out)
Price: €11,000
Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback: “Swissness” at its finest
The Lucerne-based manufacture has been the official timekeeper of the Swiss Football Association since 2014. In this function, Carl F. Bucherer has provided the Swiss national team with a timepiece of choice; and for the 2018 edition of the World Cup the entire team agreed upon the brand’s technically advanced Manero Flyback.
Swiss national player Roman Buerki receiving his Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback along with the rest of the team before heading to the World cup in Russia
What an excellent choice! First introduced in 2016, seven variations of this picture-perfect timekeeper are available today in stainless steel and pink gold. All of them offer technical bravura clad in timeless elegance.
The watch is distinguished by its harmonious proportions and rounded lines paired with a tasteful font. Its slightly vintage-style dial with a tachymeter scale on its periphery boasts a balanced bicompax display.
Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback
The key player inside the 43 mm case is automatic Caliber CFB 1970 chronograph featuring a highly desirable flyback function that enables the measurement of several consecutive intervals. A 42-hour power reserve keeps the four-Hertz movement ticking, which boasts sophisticated column-wheel switching of the chronograph functions.
The view through the exhibition case back is a feast for the eyes: fine watchmaking from Lucerne in all its glory.
For more information, please visit www.carl-f-bucherer.com/en/watches/manero-flyback.
Quick Facts Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback
Case: 43 x 14.45 mm, pink gold
Movement: automatic manufacture Caliber CFB 1970 (base ETA Valjoux 7750), 4 Hz/28,800 vph frequency, power reserve 42 hours
Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds; date, chronograph with flyback function
Price: CHF 16,800/$18,000
Hublot Big Bang Referee 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia: smart soccer
“Hublot loves football!” is one of the Swiss luxury manufacture’s marketing slogans. As the official timekeeper of the FIFA World Cup 2018, Hublot has conceived a genuinely unique watch for this occasion, which also happens to be the brand’s first smartwatch.
Analogue indications are one of the many options available on the Hublot Big Bang Referee 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia
As was to be expected from Hublot, the Big Bang Referee 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia offers cutting-edge technology, for it instantly connects its wearer to every decisive second of the matches being played.
Similar to its LVMH sibling brand, TAG Heuer, Hublot worked with the team at Intel and Google – which means that most of this watch’s hard- and software is shared with the TAG Heuer Connected Watch that has been a staple on the luxury smartwatch market for three years.
However, to create the Big Bang Referee 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, Hublot also teamed up with FIFA. In fact, the organization had asked Hublot to tailor a smart watch to meet the referees’ needs.
One of its amazing functions is that it uses the Goal-Line Technology, an automated goal-line monitoring system from FIFA that tracks goals and alerts referees as soon as a player scores. However, this feature is only provided within the watch models that were made specifically for the referees.
Of course, the watch itself isn’t just for referees. Soccer fans around the world can still get excellent use from this device even without that special function.
Hublot Big Bang Referee 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia
Google Wear OS technology runs within the 49 mm case, which keeps football fans up to date with every game. Several notification features including match announcements 15 minutes before the kickoff, showing of yellow or red cards, player substitutions, and – of course – notifications of any goals scored are displayed on the 35.4 mm screen.
Additionally, the dial displays the full statistics of each match, including goal scorers, players’ histories, and the time.
As for the so-called habillage, Hublot’s first smartwatch features a design similar to the company’s classic Big Bang, which includes a titanium case, a Kevlar insert, and a bezel that’s held in place by the brand’s signature six H-shaped screws (see The Schmidt List: Signature Movement Screws).
In terms of dials, the timepiece offers 32 different options, each of them inspired by the flags of the participating countries and teams.
The Big Bang Referee 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia features the brand’s patented interchangeable One Click strap system and is delivered with two straps, one made of black rubber and a second sponge cuff strap emblazoned with the 2018 FIFA World Cup emblem.
For more information, please visit www.hublot.com/en/news/big-bang-referee-2018-fifa-world-cup-russia.
Quick Facts Hublot Big Bang Referee 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia
Case: 49 x 13.09 mm, titanium
Technology: Intel Wear OS by Google, technology developed by LVMH
Battery life: one day
Limitation: 2,018 pieces
Price: CHF 4,900 / $5,200
You might also enjoy:
Top 10 Soccer Watches In Honor Of The FIFA World Cup 2014
The Secret Link Between The FIFA World Cup And The Hublot Antikythera Sunmoon
Argentina vs. Switzerland FIFA World Cup Matchup: Leo Messi’s Audemars Piguet Takes On Diego Benaglio’s Carl F. Bucherer And More
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At last, Konstantin Chaykin gives us something interesting to come from the world of football: it had to happen eventually!