Top Luxury Watches and Their Athlete Ambassadors

One of the best tennis players and most famous professional athletes, Serena Williams has won 23 Grand Slam titles, more than any other woman or man. Her sister Venus and she have also won 14 Grand Slam Double titles, the second most for pairs. Serena played tennis since she was 4 years old and she participated in her first professional game when she was just 14. Her serve is considered the greatest in the history of women’s tennis.

Serena believes in standing up for oneself, not losing focus, getting back up when falling, and never giving up. Her views on racial equality and strong bodies are an inspiration to young women everywhere. “Tennis is a small play in the whole scheme of things,” she said. “In this society, women are not taught or expected to be that future leader or future CEO."

"The narrative has to change," she continues. "And maybe it doesn’t get better in time for me, but someone in my position can show women and people of color that we have a voice because Lord knows I use mine. I love sticking up for people and supporting women. Being the voice that millions of people don’t have.”

With someone as fashionable as Serena, it’s no surprise she partnered with luxury watch brand Audemars Piguet as their ambassador in 2014. In her first year, she sported classic adaptations of the Royal Oak Offshore. In 2017, the tennis champ was seen wearing the 18K rose gold Millenary after winning her final Grand Slam award. This timepiece is assembled with a black Mother of Pearl dial, diamond cut accents, and a white alligator strap covered in 65 cts of diamond.

Serena’s effortless style expands outside the tennis courts as well. The Diamond Outrage was adorned on her wrist at the 2017 Met Gala. Worth $1.25 million, this Audemars Piguet is white gold, encrusted with 65 carats of precious stone, and is powered by the quartz 2701 calibre. At the 2019 Met Gala, her husband and she stunned with matching AP watches; she wore a diamond set Royal Oak, and he wore a CODE 11:59 Automatic Chronograph.

The latest version of the Royal Oak can be seen in AP’s 2022 campaign featuring the famous athlete herself. The mirror effect brings out the shimmering reflections and color.

Spanish tennis sensation Rafael Nadal has been playing since he was four years old, guided by his retired professional soccer player and uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal. He turned professional in 2001 after beating Grand Slam Champion Pat Cash when he was 15 years old. He was one of the youngest players to ever win an ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) match.

His extensive list of accomplishments includes 92 ATP singles titles, with 63 of these on clay (a challenging type of tennis court made of a combination of unbound minerals). Fans have said he is the most intense competitor in tennis. It’s no wonder he’s known as the King of Clay. Nadal also has 36 Master Titles, 22 Grand Slam Men’s Singles Titles, and he is ranked World #3 in Singles by the ATP.

In 2010, the tennis champ founded Nadal Educational and Tennis School in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India. Nadal knows how difficult it is to prepare for a life of professional sport while also maintaining your studies. He wanted to help children do both without the pressure of forgoing an education. There are currently 226 participants in the program.

While Nadal never considered wearing a watch while playing, it didn’t take much for Richard Mille to convince him. Together, they developed the lightest tourbillon in the world at the time, and now wearing a watch on the court is like a second skin to him. The RM 27-02 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal is Limited Edition of 50 pieces with shock absorption technology. The orange reflects the clay courts in Roland Garros, Paris, where Nadal dominated for so many years.

In 2017, Nadal wore the RM 27-03 at the 2018 Men’s Singles Finals French Opening. Nobody could stop marveling at the watch’s intensity when the cameras zoomed in on Nadal’s cramping hand during the game. Weighing just 0.7 ounces, the timepiece can withstand 10,000 G’s of force, which is perfect for a world-class tennis champ. Also Limited Edition to 50 pieces, the red and yellow Quartz TPT® case pays homage to Spain’s colors.

The latest Rafael Nadal Richard Mille collaboration was released in 2001, marking their 10th Partnership Anniversary. The RM 27-04 Manual Winding Tourbillon’s design was inspired by the process used to string a tennis racket.

World famous golfer Eldrick Tont ‘Tiger’ Woods is considered one of the greatest golfers of our time, and he has staged impressive comebacks over the years. From as young as 6 months, Woods watched his father hit golf balls in the garage, playing with his dad at just 18 months old.

After being the only man to win the US Amateur championship 3 years in a row (1994-1996), he turned professional at 20 years old. At 24, he was the youngest golfer to win the Career Grand Slam; he collected 46 PGA Tour wins in his 20s and has since won 15 major championships. Remarkably, he was the world’s first billion-dollar athlete and is an inductee of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

In 1996, Woods founded the Tiger Woods Foundation, providing education to students in underrepresented communities to stay in school and succeed. The website’s impact states: “TGR Foundation equips young people with the tools and support they need to discover their interests, enhance their knowledge, and build their own path to personal and professional success.”

In 2011, he partnered with Rolex as an ambassador. When he initially signed with Rolex, he was seen wearing a 40 mm white gold President Day-Date with a fluted bezel. Woods occasionally wears a 40 mm Rolex Submariner on more formal occasions, as it’s thinner and more elegant. Fans have speculated if the professional wears his Rolexes to sleep, to which Woods has replied, “Yeah.”

While the professional golfer can usually be seen with a Rolex around his wrist on and off the court, his favorite is the Sea-Dweller ‘James Cameron’ Deepsea. Something that people may not know about Woods is his second passion: surfing and diving. The Deepsea is the ideal watch for water adventures, as it’s designed to hold up to pressure and is universal enough for both the golf course and a night out on the same day.

Acclaimed soccer player David Beckham is one of the greatest and most recognizable midfielders of his generation. Beckham knew he wanted to be a soccer player ever since he was a little kid. He made his professional debut in 1992 for Manchester United at 17 years old; he was on the team until 2003, winning the Premier League 6 times, the FA Cup twice, and the Champions League once.

Later, he played for Real Madrid, AC Milan, and LA Galaxy. He was the first British player to win league titles in four countries: England, Spain, the USA, and France. Beckham was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008, as well as the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.

The infamous 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham was written as a tribute to the soccer player in reference, of course, to his ability to ‘bend’ his free kicks to score. Even though Beckham retired in 2013, he is still idolized for his legendary soccer skills, men’s fashion, and philanthropic work. Since 2005, Beckham has worked as an ambassador for UNICEF UK, focusing on children and education.

David Beckham’s watch collection has classically evolved over the years. He happily joined Tudor as their Brand Ambassador in 2017 for their Born to Dare Campaign. He is often wearing the Tudor Black Bay collection.

Beckham’s 43 mm Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze divers watch is valued at $4000.

The steel Tudor Black Bay Ceramic that he is also seen wearing is valued at about $6,000. These watches are perfect for capturing his confidence and style without being too showy.

Be like one of your favorite athlete ambassadors and shop Avi & Co.'s luxury watch brands!