IIWC Schaffhausen is underlining its partnership with the footballer Zinédine Zidane with a new special edition. The Swiss watch manufacturer is dedicating the Big Ingenieur Edition Zinédine Zidane to the outstanding footballing personality. On this occasion, Zidane has been personally involved in the design of this model, which is limited to a worldwide edition of 500 watches.

The great successes of Zinédine Zidane speak for themselves. The Frenchman of Algerian Kabyle Berber descent, born in Marseilles, has played for Bordeaux, Juventus Turin and Real Madrid. He was awarded the title of FIFA World Player of the Year on three occasions and World Sportsman of the Year in 1999, he won the Golden Ball several times, became Spanish Champion, European and World Champion and winner of the Intercontinental Cup: his career bears witness to unquestionable team spirit and great elegance, both on and off the field.

This combination is also embodied in the second special edition, which IWC Schaffhausen is dedicating to its sporting ambassador. With the Big Ingenieur Edition Zinédine Zidane, the Swiss watch manufacturer has created a highly individual timepiece with guaranteed robustness thanks to its solid Ingenieur case. The IWC-manufactured 51113 calibre movement similarly possesses exceptional stamina and exhibits the sophisticated technical approach that also characterized the footballer Zidane. A large spring barrel, supplied with energy by the highly efficient Pellaton automatic winding system, provides the Big Ingenieur with a power reserve of seven days.

The tireless movement measures a generous 37.8 millimetres in diameter and is accommodated inside a 45.5-millimetre stainless steel case, making the Big Ingenieur one of the most high-profile men’s watches from Schaffhausen. As a result, it is a perfect fit on the wrist of the1.85-metre-tall elite athlete, who is still in superb shape three years after the end of his active football career.

Whereas IWC Schaffhausen retained the colours of the French national team for the first Edition Zinédine Zidane, the new Big Ingenieur Edition Zinédine Zidane reflects the individual taste of the footballer. Accordingly, it features a dark brown dial. The Arabic numeral “10” stands out in a bright red colour. The engraved name of the former football star can be seen on the winding rotor through the transparent sapphire-glass back. The medallion also bears a figure “10” – the number which Zidane wore on his shirt in the French national team for many years and with which he led the “Équipe Tricolore” to numerous victories. And, of course, to the World Cup crown in 1998.

Two red numbers on the otherwise all-white chapter ring of the Big Ingenieur are a further reminder of this. The “27” and the “45” stand for the minutes of play in which Zidane scored arguably the two most important goals of his career. At the World Cup Final in 1998, which France won 3:0 against Brazil at the Stade de France in Paris, Zidane made sure of the half-time lead with two mighty headers in the 27th and 45th minutes and thus settled the final score.

Zidane was also personally involved in the colour scheme and individualization of the Big Ingenieur dedicated to him and limited to a worldwide edition of 500 watches. The limited-edition inscription, “ONE OUT OF 500”, is engraved on the side of the case at “9 o’clock”. A dark brown alligator leather strap, which is colour-coordinated with the dial, ensures a comfortable fit on the wrist.