Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo spotted wearing De La Cour

Cristiano Ronaldo was photographed at the airport en route to Moscow for Juventus's UEFA Champions League match, his wrist carrying what is arguably the most technically complex watch in his extensive collection. The piece in question is a custom De La Cour Genève BiChrono in rose gold, distinguished by 33 diamonds set around its octagonal bezel — a specification that places it firmly in one-of-a-kind commissioned territory.

De La Cour is a Geneva-based independent manufacture founded with the explicit ambition of engineering complications that larger houses avoid due to development cost and commercial risk. The BiChrono is the brand's signature reference: it houses two separate chronograph mechanisms within a single dial architecture, each operating on independent pushers and sub-register layouts. The dial on Ronaldo's example is executed in deep black with bold Arabic numerals, twin tachymeter scales, and two sets of chronograph sub-dials — all of which are clearly legible in the image. The bi-color hand treatment, with one red and one green central seconds hand, confirms the dual-timing functionality. The case measures approximately 48mm across its widest axis, consistent with De La Cour's standard BiChrono dimensions, and sits on a black alligator strap with rose gold deployant.

From a collector perspective, De La Cour occupies an unusual position: technically credible at a level that commands respect among serious horologists, yet commercially obscure enough that pieces rarely appear at mainstream auction. The BiChrono's dual-chronograph movement is hand-finished to Geneva standards and represents genuine manufacture engineering rather than an ébauche modification. The addition of 33 diamonds on the bezel of Ronaldo's piece pushes this into haute joaillerie watch territory, with the stone count and setting quality consistent with work commissioned directly through the brand's bespoke atelier.

Ronaldo's watch collection is one of the most documented in professional sport, encompassing pieces from Richard Mille, Jacob & Co., and Franck Muller. His choice of the De La Cour BiChrono signals an awareness of independent watchmaking beyond the obvious trophy names — the brand is not a status shorthand in the way a Patek Philippe Nautilus would be, making this a genuinely informed acquisition.

The UK list price for this commission was reported at £150,000, placing the USD equivalent above $185,000 at prevailing exchange rates at time of purchase. No established grey-market comparables exist given the bespoke nature of the piece.