A Split Second In Time With Aaron Rodgers And His Zenith Watch

Last night on my column here, I announced the unveiling by Zenith and Aaron Rodgers of the Chronomaster Sport Aaron Rodgers Limited Edition watch. The chronograph, which times to 1/10th of second, is created in steel with a green lacquer dial and green ceramic bracelet indicative of the four-time NFL MVP player’s current team (Jets) and maybe even previous team (Green Bay Packers). The watch was showcased to public and collectors at an event at the LVMH Tower’s Magic Room.

There, during an interview with Aaron Rodgers, he said the watch has some subtle “little Easter eggs.” Perhaps the yellow tipped second hand refers to his years with Green Bay, while the color green selected more closely resembles the Jets green. Additionally, a surprise for buyers of the watch, Rodgers signed each of the 250 boxes individually.

When I asked what his biggest challenge was during the 15-month design-to-fruition project, he said: “Making a decision. Do we want numbers, what should they look like, what color should we use. They would send me designs and then we would talk and then they would send more designs. There were so many good options that the hard part was figuring out exactly what we wanted.”

One of his favorite touches of the 250-piece limited edition watch: The case back of the watch features a transparent sapphire crystal inset for viewing of the movement and that features his initials on it. There had been some discussion, apparently, about whether his name or initials should be on the case back or even on the dial of the $12,800 timepiece.

Rodgers said he was impressed by the Zenith Manufacture when he visited last year and he gained a great insight into the watchmaking and designing process. A history lover, Rodgers says he also was impressed by the brand’s unique history, wherein one watchmaker hid the tools and processes for the El Primero movement in the attic of the brand – sealing it behind a wall – so that the machinery wouldn’t be destroyed during the quartz era.

“That history is so meaningful. That one man who would go at night and hide the machinery to save it is so special. I love stories where people take risks and show some courage and act on their instincts, and maybe change the world. For Zenith, one man did something he wasn’t supposed to do.” Rodgers said that action made all the difference for Zenith and he was impressed by that history.

Unfortunately, Rodgers suffered an injury early in the season and has been unable to play for the Jets. But on Sunday October 29, he was on the sidelines at the Jets game, where the team was victorious over the Giants.

“My full-time job right now is rehab, so I’m doing that for four hours on a light day and eight hours on a heavy day every day. But I miss the guys; I miss being in the locker room. There’s nothing like being back with the guys. I have a mindset of trying to be back this season so I need to be around them. And just to be on the sidelines yesterday was medicine for my soul.”

Currently the oldest player in football, Rodgers said he’s used to being the oldest. “The time went by quick. I was the oldest player on Green Bay for the last five years or so, so I am used to it, used to all the jokes that go along with it and the separation from the younger players. I can be quoting movies from the 1990’s or talking pop culture references for when I was a teenager in the 9’0s and a lot of these younger guys weren’t even born yet. So, you’ve got to try harder with them. I feel young in my mind but obviously I can’t move around as well as I used to when I was younger but I love the challenge to compete against father time and to rewrite a relationship between time and the longevity of a career.”

He was serious when he said he put his mind to returning to the game before the season is out. A doer, a leader, a positive thinker, Rodgers may just make that happen.