Time for tennis: the most iconic watch partnerships at Wimbledon - Luxury watch insurance

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Updated 5th July 2024

It’s time to whip out the strawberries and pour yourself a glass of Pimm’s, Wimbledon officially returned on Monday 1 July 2024 for two-weeks of matches that have the nation gripped.

Since it began in 1877, there has been a number of longstanding traditions which are synonymous with this prestigious event, two of which we have already mentioned. But we have one particular Wimbledon tradition that, for us, stands triumphantly above all others.

It’s become a staple of Wimbledon that a plethora of famous faces attend the event. From the Royal Family to actors, sportspeople to fashion designers, models and many other notable figures, Wimbledon is certainly the place to be if you enjoy celebrity spotting. But we’re less focused on the person themselves… and more focused on what they are wearing on their wrists. That’s right, accompanying these famous faces are some of the most beautiful timepieces on the market – or on occasion, pieces not even available on the market.

Rolex watches at Wimbledon

As one of the most well-known watch brands in the world, it’s no surprise that Rolex often makes an appearance both on the courts and courtside. For over 40 years, Rolex was the official timekeeper at Wimbledon so it will come as no surprise that over the decades, R olex has witnessed many pivotal moments from the front-row.

Most recently in 2023, 20-year-old Spanish sensation, Carlos Alcaraz became Wimbledon champion and collected his trophy sporting a rare Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. Although this exact price for this model is unknown, similar pieces have sold for upwards of $125,000 (roughly £100,000).

Before this, tennis legend, Roger Federer, was well known for having a long-standing affiliation with Rolex, always showcasing the newest watches both on and off the court. Even after he retired from the sport, Federer continued to act as a brand ambassador with both he and his wife, Mirka Federer, making a stylish statement with two Rolex watches at Wimbledon 2023.

Rolex has a number of new releases for 2024 including the Deepsea and two variations of the Sky-Dweller in gold, keep your eyes peeled to see if you can spot one of these beauties at this year’s event.

Bvlgari watches at Wimbledon

Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev, currently ranked sixth in the world, became Bvlgari’s first-ever tennis brand ambassador in 2021. Since then, Rublev has amassed a glorious collection of watches that he has showcased at a number of events. At the Bank of China Hong Kong Tennis Open in January 2024, he donned a remarkable Octo Finissimo and in 2023, Rublev helped launch Bvlgari’s Aluminium Match Point Edition, a lightweight watch specially designed for wearing during tennis.

Richard Mille at Wimbledon

When Richard Mille approached Rafael Nadal in 2008, Nadal was reluctant to wear wristwatches during his matches. But together, the pair created the world’s lightest tourbillon at the time and have since released 10 models, including the RM 35-03 released in December 2023. Will we get to see this new piece making its first appearance at Wimbledon this summer? Only time will tell…

Hublot at Wimbledon

As the top-ranking male tennis player in the world, Novak Djokovic’s partnership with Hublot is not to be forgotten. Djokovic became an ambassador for the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer in 2021. Recently the tennis champion was seen sporting a Spirit of Big Bang All Black Pave 42 mm at the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year ceremony in Madrid. Another recent release from Hublot is the Big Bang Integrated Time Only Titanium 38mm, retailing at over £11,200. We wonder if we could be so lucky to see this piece at Wimbledon this year?

Watch that wrist

Speaking of which, there have been a number of remarkable new watches launched in the first half of this year. This year’s Watches & Wonders event unveiled new timepieces from over 54 brands. We’ve selected a few more from the new releases that we predict we might catch a glimpse of at Wimbledon this year.

In no particular order, Girard-Perregaux recently released a dazzling 42mm Pink Gold Laureato. Retailing at £44,100, the entrancing dial appears to change colour when viewed from different angles, switching between sage green and ultramarine blue.

Next, we have the colourful Elegante Gino’s Dream from F.P. Journe. It is not due to be released until autumn and is set to retail at CHF 34,500 (roughly £30,000) but will we see a soft launch at Wimbledon, we wouldn’t want to rule that out.

Jaeger-LeCoultre also released the Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar, a timeless piece which has been refreshed in four different variations including a particularly captivating midnight blue dial with a rose gold case.

Last but not least, retailing at £51,470 is the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738-1R with over 300 links individually mounted by hand, forming the chain-style bracelet.

Watches at Wimbledon 2024

Wimbledon is no stranger to big name watchmakers gracing the wrists of the A-listers in attendance. We’ve already mentioned Rolex, Bvlgari, Richard Mille, Hublot, Girard-Perregaux, F.P. Journe and Jaeger-LeCoultre, Patek Philippe but that is only the beginning. Vacheron Constantin, Tudor, Omega, Audemars Piguet, Gucci, De Bethune, the list goes on. We don’t know about you, but we can’t wait to see the arm-candy on display at this year’s event. Perhaps you can join us for a little “Wristwatch Bingo” and let us know the gems you spot during the tournament.