Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen is underlining its partnership with legendary footballer Zinédine Zidane with a new special edition.

It is dedicating the Big Ingenieur Edition Zinédine Zidane to the outstanding football personality. Zidane has also been personally involved in the design of this model, which is limited to a worldwide edition of 500 watches.

The new model has time scales, a generous 37.8 mm in diameter, accommodated inside a 45.5-millimetre stainless steel case, making the Big Ingenieur one of the most high-profile men’s watches from Schaffhausen.

Zidane,the Frenchman of Algerian Kabyle Berber descent, was born in Marseilles and has played for Bordeaux, Juventus Turin and Real Madrid. He has been thrice the FIFA World Player of the Year and was honoured World Sportsman of the Year in 1999.

As a Spanish, European and World Champion and as winner of Golden Ball and the Intercontinental Cup, Zidane's career is a manifestation of unquestionable team spirit and great elegance, both on and off the field, said the press release.

This combination is also embodied in the second special edition, which IWC Schaffhausen is dedicating to its sporting ambassador, it said. The IWC manufactured 51113 calibre movement, similarly possesses exceptional stamina and exhibits the sophisticated technical approach that also characterized the footballer Zidane.

A large spring barrel, supplied with energy by the highly efficient Pellaton automatic winding system, provides the Big Ingenieur with a power reserve of seven days.