Purnell Official Partner Of The Ballon D’Or

Watchmaking House Purnell has become the official partner of the Ballon d’Or^TM – a prestigious association between the most select brand which exclusively manufactures Tourbillon watches and the most sought-after award in the world of football. The partnership was signed for three years.

Upon the occasion of the Ballon d’Or^TM gala evening scheduled to take place in Paris on November 29^th, France Football will respectively present each of the 2021 men’s and women’s winners of the prestigious award with a unique Purnell model specifically designed and developed for the event.

Who will succeed Lionel Messi as the next Ballon d’Or^TM recipient? The Argentinian player himself, thus making his mark further in the sport’s history? Or perhaps another football star among the shortlist of 30 potential winners to be disclosed on October 8^th? Whoever he is, the next person designated as the year’s best player will for the very first time receive, in addition to the Ballon d’Or^TM award itself, an exceptional timepiece – specifically made for the occasion by Purnell.

“The Ballon d’Or^TM is to football what the Academy Awards or the Palme d’Or are to cinema: the ultimate award,” comments Purnell’s CEO, Maurizio Mazzocchi.“Football is the most popular sport in the world and the Ballon d’Or^TM its most prestigious distinction. This is the reason why we have decided to become officially associated with an event that has such a worldwide stature. While other brands sponsor clubs and competitions, Purnell, which has a special edge given its extremely high-end positioning – indeed, our models’ average pricing is the highest in the watchmaking industry – could only attach its name to the very best players, the Ballon d’Or^TM winners.”

Purnell, or the magic of the Spherion

Established in Geneva since 2020, the House of Purnell, a newcomer in the sphere of haute horlogerie, is exclusively dedicated to the design and manufacturing of Tourbillon watches, as single pieces or extremely limited editions. Expert in the knowledge of gravitational forces, its master watchmaker Éric Coudray has designed a high-speed triple-axis tourbillon named the Spherion, one of the most beautiful and mesmerizing displays of horology magic one could ever imagine.

Though the tourbillon itself was invented in 1801, Purnell has definitely propelled it into the future through the very concept of the Spherion and the avant-garde design of its watches – in complete harmony with the brand’s motto: More future than past.

Fabio Cannavaro, 2006 Ballon d’OrTM winner and Purnell Brand Hero

Although traditionally awarded to a playmaker or a forward, the Ballon d’Or^TM was in 2006 given to a defender, Fabio Cannavaro. This ultimate prize rewarded at once the speed of his accelerations, the precision of his interventions in the game, and his impenetrable defence strategy. The captain who led the Italian team to victory in the 2006 World Cup, he also distinguished himself during his entire career under the colours of several leading football clubs such as Napoli, Juventus or Real Madrid. Now active as a coach, Fabio Cannavaro devotes his time to making football a unifying force around the world, a commitment which, beyond the man’s talent as a football player, convinced Purnell to choose him as its first Brand Hero.

“When I wear a Purnell watch, I can’t help but be fascinated with the speed and performance of its tourbillons, enhanced by a unique design,”Fabio Cannavaro confides. “I admire Purnell’s determination to always push the boundaries of what is possible through its watches whose performance is second to none, and I am proud to have my name associated with Purnell and its unique watchmaking culture.”

The Ballon d’Or, a legendary award

Created in 1956 by the French weekly magazine France Football, the Ballon d’Or^TM is awarded annually to the best player of the year by a panel of international journalists. Exceptionally, it was not presented in 2020 because of the pandemic. Its universal influence has received unanimous recognition, and the 2021 Ballon d’Or^TM presentation on November 29 is expected to be one of the most widely followed and commented events on social media.

The Women’s Ballon d’Or^TM was created in 2018 to support the increasing popularity of women’s football and highlight the talent of both club and national team players.

• The last 20 Men’s Ballon d’Or^TM winners:
  

2019: Lionel Messi • 2018: Luka Modric • 2017: Cristiano Ronaldo • 2016: Cristiano Ronaldo • 2015: Lionel Messi • 2014: Cristiano Ronaldo • 2013: Cristiano Ronaldo • 2012: Lionel Messi • 2011: Lionel Messi • 2010: Lionel Messi • 2009: Lionel Messi • 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo • 2007: Kaká • 2006: Fabio Cannavaro • 2005: Ronaldinho • 2004: Andreï Chevtchenko • 2003: Pavel Nedved • 2002: Ronaldo • 2001: Michael Owen • 2000: Luis Figo.

• Women’s Ballon d’Or^TM winners:
  

2019: Megan Rapinoe • 2018: Ada Hegerberg.

Which football stars will receive a unique Purnell timepiece engraved with their name along with the 2021 Ballon d’Or^TM? The answer will be revealed on November 29.

BALLON D’OR 21 UNIQUE PIECE - Technical Specifications

P10BDO21

M O V E M E N T

- Mechanical Hand Winding Caliber P10

- Innovative “Ballon d’Or” Tourbillon encased in Golden Football, Full Rotation in 30 seconds

- Functions: Hour, Minute

- Power Reserve Indication via an Ingenious Suspended Mobile Cone

- Mainspring Sensor

- Number of Components: 245

- Number of Jewels: 37

- Power Reserve: 50 hours

B A L L O N D’ O R

- True to Purnell’s ethos of ONLY TOURBILLON, the Ballon d’Or Unique Piece houses a tourbillon, encased in a Golden Football, which is engraved and hand polished in La Chaux-de-Fonds, developed by
Purnell’s Master Watchmaker Eric Coudray.

- Full rotation in 30 seconds

- “Ballon d’Or” weight: 4.14g in 18K Rose Gold

- 2 Mainspring Barrels; 2 Visible Barrel Covers Engraved with following message:

Left Barrel:

« France Football est honorée de remettre au vainqueur masculin* de la 65ème edition du Prestigieux Trophée Ballon d’Or France Football 2021, la Montre Purnell Ballon d’Or. Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris le 29 novembre 2021. »

*feminin for the women winner

Translation: Left Barrel:

“France Football is honored to present the male* winner of the 65th edition of the Prestigious Ballon d'Or Trophy France Football 2021 with the Purnell Ballon d'Or Watch. Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris on 29 November 2021.”

*woman for the woman winner

Right Barrel:

« Ballon d’Or France Football et Purnell partagent les valeurs universelles que sont la Performance, le Talent, le Fairplay et la Pérennité. Valeurs auxquelles s’associent Eric Coudray, inventeur du Calibre Purnell P10 qui équipe la montre Pièce Unique Purnell Ballon d’Or 2021. »

Translation Right Barrel:

“Ballon d’Or France Football and Purnell share the universal values of Performance, Talent, Fairplay and Perpetuity. These values are shared by Eric Coudray, inventor of the Purnell P10 Calibre which equips the Purnell Ballon d’Or 2021 Unique Piece watch.”

- Balance Frequency: 3hz / 21,600bph

- Movement Dimensions: 38mm X 14.4mm

- Movement Weight: 12.9 grams

- Adjusted: All Positions

- Shock Protection: 8 Incabloc

D I A L & H A N D S

- Smoked Sapphire Dial with Hand-Polished Hands

- Finished with Hand-Applied Indexes Displaying Hours and Minutes

- Power Reserve Indicator coated in powdered 5N Gold

C A S E

- Material: 18K Rose Gold

- Diameter: 48mm

- Water Resistance: 3 atm

- Number of Case Components: 15

- Monobloc Sapphire Crystal

- Lateral Windows on Edge of Case at 9 o’clock

S T R A P

- Black Natural Rubber

- Rose Gold Folding Buckle with PURNELL logo in black lacquer

About Purnell

Known to only produce tourbillon movements, the Swiss watchmaker Purnell is inspired by performance, precision and mechanical prowess, doubling with a singular vision of bringing more future than past to watchmaking. Since the brand’s introduction at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2020, Purnell has made its mark on the landscape of contemporary high watchmaking, not only with its unmistakable Spherion but also with a manufacturing process integrated locally in the Vallée de Joux all the way to the brand’s new headquarters on Rue du Rhône in Geneva, which includes a refined showroom to welcome clients.

www.purnellwatches.com