Former AC Milan and Juventus footballer, Andrea Pirlo, approached bespoke watchmaker, Artisans de Genève, to modify his personal favorite timepiece, a Rolex Submariner. The Andrea Pirlo Azzurro Challenge is an exclusive piece designed for the football champion by Artisans De Genève. Each refinement was crafted to give Pirlo’s timepiece an unmatched appeal. Pirlo chose to keep the watch’s technical skeleton, but added the azure blue and rose gold, colors he loves. He wanted to keep the forged carbon insert that was essential to the timepiece’s sporty look. An interesting detail that the bezel boasts is a significant number: A 21 index in rose gold that recalls the jersey number that the champion wore throughout his career.
The process of reimagining Pirlo’s watch took Artisans de Genève two years and involved 37 craftsmen from across Switzerland to modify the 3130 movements of the watch. The transparent back reveals the skeletonized gold rotor, engraved with the inscription “Il Maestro 1995-2017” – a tribute to Pirlo’s storied career. The beveled facets of the shell are carefully polished, the body ring has a satin surface, and the inner part has undergone sandblasting. The result is a breathtaking timepiece with a bright visual contrast of surfaces and different finishes.