Wimbledon, the world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament, has once again captured the attention of fans around the globe. With its impeccable lawns, stringent dress codes and charm of strawberries and Champagne Lanson, Wimbledon is undoubtedly one of the most elegant events of the year.
It has become a norm at Wimbledon to have a sea full of famous faces sitting in the stands of Court No. 1. From the British Royal family to everybody’s favourite celebrities, athletes from different sports to fashion designers, it is the place where celebrity spotting in a common phenomenon. Some people focus on the person and some on their shiny wrists. Indeed, alongside these well-known personalities are some of the most eye-catchy timepieces available—occasionally even featuring exclusive pieces not yet on the market.
However, it is not just the spectators who wear these stunning wristwatches, the players themselves often sport them, both on and off the court. Renowned watch brands are a common sight at Wimbledon, with many top athletes choosing to wear them. These brands have become an integral part of the tournament’s identity, shining light on the precision and style during a thrilling match or at a post-game interview.
Rolex’s Presence at Wimbledon
Rolex, celebrated as one of the world’s premier watch brands, consistently makes its presence felt at Wimbledon, both on the courts and among the attendees. For over four decades, Rolex has served as the official timekeeper of the tournament, witnessing countless historic moments from the front row.
In the 2023 tournament, the spotlight fell on a 20-year-old Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz, who won the championship and accepted the trophy with a rare Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. Prior to Alcaraz’s triumph, tennis icon Roger Federer enjoyed a longstanding association with Rolex, frequently showing their latest releases on and off the court. Even after retiring from professional tennis, Federer maintained his role as a brand ambassador, attending Wimbledon 2023 with his wife, Mirka Federer, each wearing a Rolex.
Hublot’s Presence at Wimbledon
As the world’s top-ranked tennis player, Novak Djokovic’s partnership with Hublot remains prominent. Djokovic became an ambassador for the Swiss luxury watchmaker in 2021. He was recently captured wearing a Spirit of Big Band All Black Pave 42mm watch at the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year ceremony in Madrid.
In this year’s tournament, Djokovic was spotted wearing a green ceramic timepiece from Hublot’s Big Bang Integral collection, introduced in 2022 to meet the rising demand for watches with integrated bracelets.
Richard Mille’s Presence at Wimbledon
When Richard Mille approached Rafael Nadal in 2008, Nadal initially hesitated to wear wristwatches during his matches. However, their collaboration led to the creation of the world’s lightest tourbillon at the time, marking the beginning of a series that has seen the release of 11 models, including the Carbon TPT B.4 RM 27-05 in May. During the 8th day of Wimbledon 2023, Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc was seen sporting his Richard Mille RM72-01 Flyback Chronograph.
Tag Heuer’s Presence at Wimbledon
Embodying a passion for dynamism represented by bold figures across various domains, TAG Heuer has collaborated with a roster of explosive talents in tennis. Their ambassadors include Petra Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion, Canada’s emerging stars Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime, the powerful American Frances and Tiafoe and Australia’s top-ranked player, Alex De Minaur.
Since joining TAG Heuer as a brand ambassador in January 2021, tennis icon and four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka has collaborated closely with the brand to co-design the new TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Naomi Osaka Limited Edition, which she could be seen wearing in this year’s championship during one of her matches.
On-Court Watch Highlights
While these brands may catch our attention first, they are not the only ones making waves on wrists at the tournament. Player Donna Vekic donned a F.P. Journe 40mm, Alexander Bublik wore the Bianchet Flying Tourbillon Grande Date Carbon Lime and Tommy Paull came on court with a De Bethune.
Watches in the Stands
Turning our attention from the watches on the court, let’s now shift to those in the stands. During the tournament, Romeo Beckham was seen wearing a Rolex GMT Master, while David Beckham opted for a Tudor Pelogos FXD. Even in this year’s tournament, Federer was seen in the stands wearing a Rolex Day-Date 36mm in 18k Yellow Gold.
Last Year’s Standout Timepieces
As this year’s tournament continues its rhythm, anticipation builds for the timepieces that will grace the wrists of spectators. Looking back at the watches observed at Wimbledon last year offers a peak into the styles and brands that might make a statement by the tournament’s conclusion.
Last year, David Beckham matched his summer-themed Ralph Lauren suit with a striking Tudor Black Day 58. Daniel Craig, synonymous with Omega due to his many appearances as James Bond, attended Wimbledon wearing a Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT. Prince William, who could indulge in numerous lavish watches, chose to wear his personal favourite, the Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300M, to Wimbledon’s Royal Box. Lastly, Brad Pitt garnered attention in the watch world by sporting a vintage Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222.
As we await the final matches, the watches seen last year hint at the horological flair that will punctuate this year’s Wimbledon experience.
