There is no shortage of football memorabilia floating around auctions but it’s rare to see a footballer’s watch find itself under the hammer.
But that’s exactly what’s happening with Zinedine Zidane’s Cartier Pasha, which he bought more than 35 years ago when he was a young professional at Bordeaux.
Zidane would go on to become arguably the best player in the world, winning the Ballon d’Or as well as the Champions League with Real Madrid and the FIFA World Cup with France. After his playing career was up, he then established himself as one of the best managers in the world, winning the Champions League with Real Madrid three years in a row, while he recently took over as the head coach of France.
In a statement provided to Christie’s, who are selling the piece next week as part of their Watches for ELA charity auction, Zidane said: “This Cartier Pasha was the first watch I bought for myself with my first salary when I was playing in Bordeaux. I purchased it nearly thirty-five years ago, and it has remained with me ever since.”
The watch is a reference 1050, meaning it dates to about 1990 and is a slim and sleek 38mm and has a stainless steel case with a quartz movement.
The dressy watch is perhaps most notable is its creamy dial with dots on the hourmarkers while the sapphire accents on the crown and lugs also catch the eye.
These watches aren’t among the most expensive or most sought after Cartier’s on the market and would typically fetch up to £2,000 on a good day but the fact that this is Zidane’s watch and comes with a good story changes matters. Because of the Zidane provenance, the pre-auction estimate is between £9,000–£18,000.
The proceeds will also go to a good cause with Zidane selling the piece for the European Leukodystrophies Association, a charity dedicated to fighting rare genetic disorders and an organisation the legendary footballer has worked with since 2000.
Zidane adds: “In this edition of Watches for ELA, my contribution is very simple: I’m donating a watch that I’ve had for 35 years. I felt it was important to offer something dear to me, an object with a history and genuine sentimental value.”
Guy Alba, President of ELA International, also said in a statement : “Watches for ELA is, above all, a collective endeavor, made possible through the commitment of the leading watchmaking houses, the support of Christie’s teams, and the steadfast loyalty and generosity of Zinedine Zidane and François-Henri Pinault toward ELA. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the collectors and prospective buyers whose support brings tremendous hope to families affected by leukodystrophies.”
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