This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on May 31, 2017

One of the most admired, gifted and successful football players of all time, a philanthropist, an entrepreneur and a global style icon, David Beckham’s life journey embodies the daring values that made Swiss watchmaker Tudor what it is today. This union has been a long time coming, and is a perfect match of the qualities of tenacity and endurance for which both Tudor and Beckham is known. 

Beckham’s ambassadorship coincides with the launch of Tudor’s new Born To Dare signature, which reflects both the history of the brand and what it stands for today. Daring individuals have long chosen Tudor while achieving the extraordinary on land, ice, in the air and underwater. It also refers to the vision of Hans Wilsdorf, the brand’s founder, who designed the watches to withstand the most extreme conditions — watches made for the most daring lifestyle indeed. It also tells of the singular approach Tudor is known for today, having pioneered now major trends within the watchmaking industry. 

Beckham’s wrist candy of choice is the Black Bay S&G, a vintage-inspired steel and gold diver’s watch as well as the Black Bay Chrono, a COSC-certified chronograph with column-wheel manufacture calibre drawing upon Tudor’s diving and motor sport heritage.

“Especially as an Englishman, I think you really appreciate a nice suit and a nice watch. They go very well together,” he says. A long-time fan of wristwatches, he came to know Tudor through its sibling brand, Rolex, of which he owns several timepieces. “I was attracted to Tudor by the attention to detail I could see in their watches. I then learned about the history of the brand. One of adventure, pioneer diving and daring expeditions. I was instantly hooked.” 

Whenever asked about what he would want to be later in life, he invariably answered “a football player”. This early drive led him to become one of the most acclaimed, loved and successful players in the history of the game. With three major clubs and 115 selections in the English football team, 59 as captain, he left his mark: six England Championship titles, two Major League Soccer cups, one time Champion of Spain and one time UEFA Champion. 

He might not have been the best scorer, nor the fastest player, but he had a unique style, both precise and spectacular. One of perfect passes, extraordinary kicks and supreme accuracy that proved decisive on the field. “Bend it like Beckham” says it all about his brand of game. By daring to go all the way, always, Beckham made his childhood dream a reality. 

The father of five — who has only become more handsome with age — also deserves credit for his ability to continuously reinvent himself. After retiring from professional football, Beckham’s philanthropic activities focus on the protection and welfare of children worldwide. A long-time Unicef Goodwill Ambassador and malaria foe, he dedicates his energy and time to the health and education of children in Africa. 

Beyond philanthropy and football, Beckham has worked his way up to the status of much more than a legendary player. Facing the fear of what comes after a sports career and building on his ambition, he established himself as a global style icon. His influence on popular culture transcends the pitch. He is a model and counts hundreds of millions of fans around the world.