Randy Johnson partners with Swiss watch manufacturer to create a limited-edition timepiece that is sure to be the first pitch to another perfect game.

In 2015, the Baseball Hall of Fame will have great name to add to the list. Randy Johnson, who boasts a 22-year career as a dominant pitcher for six different teams, a ten-time all-star player, fivetime Cy Young Award winner, and pitching a perfect game and two no-hitters. His nickname, “The Big Unit” only speaks to his incredible career feats, not to mention his 6’10” stature.

Yet before he makes his way to the Hall of Fame, Johnson partnered with Swiss watch manufacturer, Ulysse Nardin, to release…you guessed it, “The Big Unit” watch.

“I’ve been a watch collector for 10 to 15 years,” says Johnson, “I learned a lot about watches from various people, I feel very fortunate that is was affordable in my profession, and I feel very honored to be a part of the legacy of Ulysse Nardin.”

Johnson’s partnership with Ulysse Nardin officially began seven months ago when Ulysse Nardin’s CEO, Patrick Hoffman, approached him about collaborating for a limited edition piece. Hoffman, however, has known that Johnson has been a friend to the brand years before.

“I had heard about Randy Johnson as a watch collector probably about 8 or 9 years ago,” Hoffman says, “so I knew he liked watches and liked our watches, and that’s why it made it interesting for us to work with him.”

Ulysse Nardin and Johnson’s relationship proves to be more than another face to the brand. “We have some partnerships in other countries already similar to the one with Randy Johnson,” says Hoffman. “Wherever we do it, if it’s in India or Russia or the United States, we take a sports or something that’s more local, so we’re looking for a local sponsorship every time.”

Johnson worked closely with the designers of Ulysse Nardin to create a watch worth embodying the achievements of his career as well as the reputation of the luxurious Swiss brand.

“We’re in the first phase where we’ll have the limited timepiece called ‘The Big Unit’ that will have a type of baseball them to it, and I’m really excited about it,” Johnson says.

It’s only fitting that Johnson’s timepiece, that is set to be released late-2012, early-2013, would be big.

“It has to be big because it’s called ‘The Big Unit’ so we can’t make a small watch,” says Hoffman.

We couldn’t agree more. 

For more information, visit www.ulysse-nardin.ch/en

To view photos of the announcement event at Chase Field, click here.