Lucky number 7, Army green: Watches inspired by Dhoni's tastes and career

“At least a zip tonight,” Jean Marc Pontreau, the French CEO of a luxury watch company, urged brand ambassador Mahendra Singh Dhoni while toasting their association in Mumbai recently. But the fitness obsessed former Indian captain did not have to break his diet rule. The organisers had arranged a non-alcoholic version for him to zip from.

Earlier, Dhoni spoke about the key features of the brand’s watches that were inspired by his tastes and career. Seventy-seven and 251 pieces of each edition were released. “My jersey number is 7 and I am born on 7th of July. Hence 77,” Dhoni said. “251 is my Test No.” The other number on one of the watches is 183, Dhoni’s highest score in one-day cricket.

Dhoni’s most visible suggestion for the watches was their colour — military green. “The first and foremost thing I wanted was a green dial and a green strap,” said the wicketkeeper batsman, who is deeply interested in the armed forces and holds an honorary rank of Lt Colonel. “It’s similar to the olive green the army has.”