Tissot, NBA Sign Groundbreaking Marketing Deal

This NBA shot clock will soon include the Tissot logo

The National Basketball Association and Tissot announced Monday a new multiyear global partnership that makes the Swiss watch brand the first Official Timekeeper of the National Basketball Association, Women’s National Basketball Association, and the NBA Development League. 

This marks the first official timekeeping partnership for Tissot with a major North American sports league and the largest marketing partnership in the company’s 160-year history. With the agreement, Tissot adds to its portfolio of international sports and sporting event partnerships.  

The watch company will work with the NBA to develop a “state-of-the-art integrated timing system.” The new precision timekeeping system, inclusive of Tissot-branded shot clocks, will be implemented across all 29 NBA arenas beginning with the 2016-17 NBA season.  
As part of the agreement, Tissot receives global league licensing rights for timepieces, watches, clocks and watch accessories for all NBA teams. The company will provide support for the partnership at its retail stores around the world.

The partnership tips off this week during NBA Global Games 2015-16, which will feature six NBA teams playing seven regular-season and preseason games in six countries. Tissot will also become the Official Timekeeper and Official Watch of several marquee league events, including the NBA All-Star, NBA Draft presented by State Farm, Samsung NBA Summer League and NBA Global Games.  

In addition, Tissot will make investments across all NBA teams and league broadcast partners. Finally, Tissot and the NBA will partner on a global basis through events, marketing, media, and NBA-themed creative and advertising.  

Tissot is the top selling Swiss traditional watchmaker in terms of volume and is part of the Swatch Group—the the world’s largest watch producer and distributor. 

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Girard-Perregaux Presents Watch to Basketball Giant Yao Ming

Yao Ming with limited edition Chrono Hawk watch.

Luxury watch brand, Girard-Perregaux, presented NBA star Yao Ming with a Chrono Hawk timepiece during a gala honoring the seven-foot, six-inch basketball player for his achievements on and off the court.

Yao was honored by the Asia Society Southern California with its “Visionary of the Year” award at the organization’s annual gala, held Tuesday at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel.

The “Yao Ming” Chrono Hawk watch features a manufacture chronograph automatic movement housed in a 44mm stainless steel case. The rubber strap and sapphire caseback are embossed with Yao’s special symbol in vivid red. Girard-Perregaux only created two watches of this design. The second was auctioned at the event for $16,000.

The Yao Ming Chrono Hawk timepiece.

Yao is an eight-time All-Star center with the Houston Rockets and played on three Olympic basketball teams for China He is a veritable ambassador of the sport on behalf of China. In 2011, he became the founder and proprietor of Yao Family Wines, cabernets from Napa Valley. He is also a giant in the philanthropic world through his foundation and through partnerships with the Special Olympics and WildAid in its quest to prevent the eradication of sharks and African elephants.  

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‘The Shaq’ Designs Men’s Jewelry Collection for Zale Corp. Stores

Shaquille O’Neal has found himself a new job as a jewelry designer for Zale Corp. The former NBA star has partnered with the specialty retail jeweler to create and market a branded collection of men’s jewelry.

The Shaquille O’Neal Collection consists of a variety of men’s pendants, rings and bracelets. The collection will be offered exclusively in select Zale Corp. stores in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and online. Zale Corp. operates approximately 1,780 retail locations under the following brands: Zales Jewelers, Zales Outlet, Gordon’s Jewelers, Peoples Jewellers, Mappins Jewellers and Piercing Pagoda

The partnership builds on the strengths of both brands as Shaquille O’Neal (known as “The Shaq”) is widely regarded as one of the most gregarious personalities in sports, and Zales, is one of the most recognized North American specialty jewelry brands.

“Since I was in college I have shopped at Zales because I knew I could buy a quality product at an affordable price,” O’Neal said.

“The product is an expression of Mr. O’Neal’s fun-loving personality and his unique sense of style,” said Theo Killion, Zale CEO.

The company made a promotional video of O’Neal working behind the counter at a Zale store in the Shops at Willow Bend, a mall in Plano, Texas. The video is below.



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