Pure Luxury – Football Stars and Their Watches
It's not a secret that football stars earn a decent amount of money. But what do they do with it? Well, most well-earning players decide to buy a nice house or flat, some of them even get a luxury car as well. Or two. Or three. Others are humble and celebrate the concept of an understatement. But even the humblest usually doesn't take long to get a luxury watch: Rolex, Tudor, TAG Heuer, Breitling or Hublot.What makes those watches so popular? And can a regular sports fan afford such a piece of luxury as well?
What is so special about watches?
Watches have always been a symbol of wealth and good taste. Back in the time of industrialisation, workers could neither buy nor wear a watch. As the precision mechanics were a lot more sensitive than today, the dirt and dust in the factories would have clogged the clockwork. On another note, watches were far too dangerous at the workplace. Open machinery, a lack of workplace occupational health and safety measures, and quick piecework made it way too probable to get stuck somewhere and seriously hurt.Most workers never even had to question whether a watch might be a good idea, as they couldn't afford one anyway. Watches were reserved for the rich. While watches have become affordable within the past century, extraordinary pieces have remained a strong status symbol.
What does a nice watch tell you about its owner?
Even today, certain watch brands provoke attention, awe, and sometimes even jealousy. Many times, brands pick players as ambassadors for the low-budget collection, in which a watch may still be £10,000 but which addresses a broader target group.Just like jewelry for women, watches are accessories. Even more so today than ever before: Who needs a watch, let alone an analogue one? Most people simply look at their smartphone to find out what time it is. A nice watch like a Rolex Datejust or Oyster Perpetual flatters its carrier's wrist and attracts glances. Connoisseurs usually know about the value of a nice watch. Others admire its beauty and the lifestyle that it seems to be selling. Most people will never wear a 1.6 million luxury watch by Franck Müller as Cristiano Ronaldo does, of course.
