Avi & Co.’s Top 3 Favorite Watch Collaborations

There’s no doubt that luxury watch brands love to collaborate with companies, athletes, and celebrities that they admire. Brands like Richard Mille, Audemars Piguet, and Rolex are always looking for fresh points of view. They enjoy partnering with like-minded people who share similar passions. These commitments to retain the beauty of the craft while working with cutting-edge technology or paying tribute to watch collectors of the past are what make these timepieces so special.

Here are Avi & Co.’s top 3 favorite watch collaborations and their stories:

The Rolex Blue Dial Deepsea Sea-Dweller is amongst the ultra-resistant divers’ watches. Engineered by Rolex for deep-sea exploration, it commemorates James Cameron’s historic solo dive.

Oscar-winning director, screenwriter, and producer James Cameron is best known for pushing creative ambition further with each film. He has pushed the boundaries on his legacy science fiction films such as Titanic (1997), Avatar (2009), and Terminator (1984). Nevertheless, Cameron's passion for exploring extends beyond his films.

On March 26, 2012, he completed the Deepsea Challenger by piloting the submersible. This machine was designed to reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest-known point on Earth. This record-breaking solo dive was a whopping 37,787 feet, and it was achieved after just 2 hours and 37 minutes.

A Rolex watch, created in just 5 weeks, accompanied him on his expedition. It sat on the sub's robotic arm, which functioned normally throughout the dive. While on his three-hour exploration, he collected samples of about 68 new species. Amongst these are microbial mats which contain organisms that can survive in the dark.

“It was very lunar, a very desolate place,” James Cameron shares after his historic dive. “My feeling was one of complete isolation. I felt like, literally in the space of one day, I had gone to another planet and come back.”

The highly resistant oystersteel 44 mm case is assembled with a unidirectional bezel. This enables divers to precisely monitor their dive and decompression times. An oysterlock clasp helps prevent accidental opening, and the two-color gradient helps illuminate the darkest places on Earth.

This timepiece is powered by the self-winding 3235 calibre with a 70-hour power reserve. It has a water resistance of 12,800 feet, which is perfect for exploring the Mariana Trench. The Deepsea Sea-Dweller is also insensitive to magnetic interference and can easily be worn over a diving suit.

Avi & Co. has brand new, never-worn Deepsea Sea-Dweller models available for purchase.

In 2009, Audemars Piguet introduced the Montauk Highway Royal Oak Offshore. This timepiece captures the accessible luxury of a weekend getaway in the Hamptons.

The Montauk Highway white dial is Limited Edition of 300 pieces. The Montauk plays homage to the sea and sky of Long Island. It was named after the southern shore of the Long Island Highway which connects New Yorkers to the Hamptons. The infamous highway covers 95 miles connecting Jamaica to Montauk Point.

The Hamptons is synonymous with a sophisticated escape from the hustle and bustle of summertime in the city. When it was first released, the exclusive timepiece was only sold in select Audemars Piguet boutiques. Now, it’s a hard-to-find ticket to luxury.

The stainless steel 42 mm watch case is assembled with a fixed, matching bezel and a water resistance of 330 feet. A seaside hideaway condensed into a wristwatch, the Montauk is powered by the self-winding 3126/2840 calibre. It has a 50-hour power reserve.

This luxury timepiece is a classic blend of function and adventure. It is equipped with a ‘basement’-construction date window, rubber-clad pushers, and a stainless steel caseback to aid in its water resistance. And, of course, the octagonal bezel and eight exposed screws are the signature look for the Royal Oak Offshore collection.

The ‘Cool Hand Brooklyn’ Rolex Daytona matte blue, openworked dial was designed by Rolex’s partner Artisans de Genève in collaboration with filmmaker Spike Lee.

American film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and avid watch collector, Spike Lee is a creative force to be reckoned with. He has an extensive body of work that consists of over 35 films. Lee uses his outlet to explore race relations, urban crime and poverty, colorism in the black community, and political issues.

In 2018, he won his first Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the outrageous, comedic biography BlackKklansman. Lee has also been a teacher since 1993, working in the graduate program at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. In 2002, he was appointed as their Artistic Director. Being a huge fan of Lee’s work, it was a no-brainer when John Isaac, the Chief Executive Officer of Artisans de Genève, bumped into the director and asked for a collaboration.

“My career has been my life’s work, and I’m constantly seeking to improve,” Spike Lee says. “Laziness is not an option – success takes heart and tireless effort. This is what I try to teach my students: you need to work, work, and then work some more.

"Like the master watchmakers who have labored for hours to achieve a level of excellence and continue to surpass themselves. When I look at their work on my wrist, I’ve got so much love and respect for their talent.”

This Rolex Daytona pays tribute to legendary actor Paul Newman and Spike Lee’s favorite film of his, Cool Hand Luke. And, of course, the Brooklyn part of the timepiece’s name comes from where the director grew up. The orange and blue colors represent the iconic city of New York, including their basketball team, the New York Knicks.

The 40 mm stainless steel watch case and matching bezel are assembled with smooth pump pushers. It is powered by the self-winding 4130 calibre. The stainless steel caseback allows the wearer to see the Rolex’s calibre, as well as each Limited Edition number. It's a complex piece that involved 30 watchmakers and months to complete. There are only 40 of these in existence.

Spike Lee is the perfect balance between modern and vintage. He was the ideal person to model after for a watch considered traditional, yet timeless. The bakelite bezel is an element from the 1960s-70s, and the dial is inspired by vintage watch models.

Reach out to one of our knowledgeable sales executives today or visit our boutique to see these collaborative watches in person!