There’s something happening at the intersection of sports and luxury goods. Day one of New York Fashion Week, I imbibed at Breitling’s NFL collaboration launch. The party and partnership were cosigned by several football luminaries; perilously keeping my fanaticism in check, I chatted with Eli Manning over a drink. Weeks later, formerly change-resistant Sotheby’s “mixed sports with high society” (as the Times described it) with a trading card auction. Sadly, I didn’t get to fulfill my childhood dream of palling around with Tom Brady, who was in attendance but too busy to clink glasses.
My friend, a luxury industry veteran who’s working on a top-secret sports partnership herself, tells me that this is all fairly unprecedented. Sure, Cartier made Wimbledon cufflinks, and Karl Lagerfeld designed a World Cup necklace for Chanel’s Spring 1998 collection. Still, the World Cup is universal, not just for sports people, and tennis has always been connected to luxury—as any game assigned a royal patron.
“I’m a regular guy. Not fancy,” a reveler at the Breitling event admitted to me. “Football brought me here, but now I’m interested in learning about the finer things.” This compelled me to dive deep into the niche of luxury accessories for sports fans. And wait until you see the treasures I retrieved. If you’re going to invest in finery and status symbols, don’t you want it to say something about you?
Elevated Watches for Sports Fans
Breitling NFL Chronomats
Again, there have been sports and luxury one-off partnerships before. And yes, pro athletes are often tapped to be high-end brand ambassadors. But this long-term team-up between a Swiss luxury watchmaker and a major pro sports league is thrillingly new. These limited-edition Chronomats represent each of the 32 NFL clubs via colorways, accents, and sophisticatedly small logos on the 9 o’clock subdial. The personalization factor is undeniably fun, but still classy. Turn the case over to admire the exquisite NFL-stamped B01 movement. This is no mere novelty watch.
Photo by Chopard
Chopard Happy Golf Watch
This Chopard timepiece is definitely a touch glam, but I promise you that your golf buddies will get a kick out of it. The free-moving white diamond golf balls against the grass-green dial provide as much visual delight as the exhibition case back. Better still, the 36-millimeter case is universally flattering. Like tennis, golf also has established relationships with luxury brands. However, unlike tennis, it’s a game many guys play well into advanced age, regardless of whether or not their parents had a country club membership. (New Yorkers, you don’t need a membership to golf at Bally’s at Ferry Point.)
Photo by Tokens & Icons
Tokens & Icons Baseball Watch
Luxury doesn’t always mean diamonds and Swiss chronometers. It can also mean something bespoke, and Tokens & Icons is an excellent resource for custom, sports-themed style. This watch’s dial is constructed with leather from a regular-season ball from the team of your choice. Additionally, the case back is engraved with that team’s name. It may not be Shohei Ohtani’s $1.8 million 50/50 ball, but it’s wonderful to know that some greats have tossed your watch dial around.
Cufflinks
Photo by Simon Kemp
Simon Kemp Rugby Cufflinks
This summer, I spotted these Simon Kemp cufflinks while perusing The House of Bruar, a department store in charming Blair Atholl, Scotland. One cufflink is sculpted into the shape of a rugby ball, the other a goal post. It’s full of character—and far more elegant than a tie with a similar motif. The “hooligan sport played by gentlemen” has always been a part of my life; I have a British father and English in-laws. I regretted not buying these at Bruar until I discovered that Simon Kemp sells them directly. On their website, you can decide whether you want 18k gold accents or solid silver.
Photo by Aspinal of London
Aspinal of London Football Cleat Cufflinks
I’m of the belief that if you’re going to visually iconify the game of association football, otherwise known as soccer, you need both ball and cleat representation. That’s why, out of all the footy-themed cufflinks populating Europe’s luxury boutiques, Aspinal of London makes the best ones. Each handcrafted sterling silver cufflink features a clever chain-link fitting that connects the ball with the shoe.
Jan Leslie Basketball Cufflinks
You can always count on Jan Leslie to serve up vividly hand-painted enamels and engaging designs. These basketball cufflinks are visually striking, quite literally pieces of wearable art. With the vibrant hue of the ball and the slight movement of the net, they’re charismatic and engaging.
Bags and Storage
Photo by Gucci
Gucci x Adidas Duffel Bag
Don’t think I forgot about all you logomaniacs out there. The Adidas trefoil symbol is as iconic among sports fans as the Guccio G pattern is in Italian luxury. I find this bag more compelling than the average Hypebeast-aimed collaboration because both these symbols are historically significant to each brand. Aldo Gucci designed the Guccio pattern in honor of his father. The trefoil logo was introduced in the ’70s and has a retro-cool quality. And, of course, logos aside, Gucci does leather trim and hardware like no other.
Judith Leiber Sports Bags
My good friend is a sports agent. He uses these sports-themed clutches as functional pieces of interior décor, keeping them on his office shelf behind his desk and filling them with tea bags and office supplies. I’ve known many men to use them this way. Or, if you’re so bold, you can wear them like opulent, beautifully crafted belt bags. After all, the belt bag was the it men’s accessory in the early 2020s, and continues to be a staple of pragmatic style. And for guys who think men can’t sparkle, have you seen Tom Brady’s cognac sapphire-covered Rolex?
Buy the baseball bag at Judith Leiber
Photo by Olympia Le Tan
Olympia Le Tan Vail Clutch
Even if you’ve never glided through Riva Ridge, you might consider acquiring this artisanal yet practical art object. It’s unlikely that every gent wearing a $500 limited edition World Cup jersey ever played at the World Cup, either. And after all, aspirationalism makes luxury fun. This book-shaped clutch is another piece that can double as a usable piece of interior design, and it’s hand-sewn, each piece slightly different than the other.
Keychains and Charms
Alivia + Danny Hockey Cross Pendant
Hey, I know some guys who consider hockey their religion. Alivia + Danny makes a few sports-themed pendants that you can wear or put on your keychain. This one is special because of the architectural cross composition and beautiful surfaces. The roughness on the top hockey sticks provides a silky, textured sheen.
Photo by Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany Whistle Key Ring
I bought this for my cousin, a Premiership Rugby referee, for his birthday. Is there no better symbol of a sports officiant than a whistle? Feel free to blow into it—it’s fully functional. Whether you’re a basketball coach or a baseball umpire, this is the most dignified, stately whistle you’ll ever own.
