The former boxer’s latest acquisition reflects his taste for exclusive pieces and the close relationship he maintains with one of New York’s most prominent designers.
Now, he is reinforcing that passion by becoming the first person in the world to own the complete Avi & Co. Hue collection, a set of four gemstone-embellished watches, presented in a special edition display case, valued at US$1 million.
Mayweather said of the collection: “The Hue series is stunning,” referring to his decision to purchase all four models instead of just one. “People always ask me about my Avi & Co watches,” he said. This new purchase adds to seven other watches from the brand he already owns , including versions completely covered in diamonds. “It just feels good to have them ,” he added.
Founded in 2009 on West 47th Street in New York City, Avi & Co. is known for its celebrity clients in the worlds of music, sports and entertainment. Founder Avi Hiaeve cultivated a special relationship with Mayweather, designing custom jewelry for him for several years. “Floyd is a very close friend and we have been doing business together for a long time. Outside of business, we are always there for each other ,” Hiaeve said.
The relationship was further strengthened when Avi & Co. introduced its Hue collection, comprised of watches with precious stones in vibrant colors. Upon viewing the entire series, Mayweather couldn’t decide between the pink sapphire, blue sapphire, red ruby or green tsavorite options, and opted to purchase all four.
The Hue series, initially launched with the Ice Pink model , symbolizes Avi & Co.’s commitment to color and exclusivity. The Hue Pink Ice, which was introduced to the world in July, measures 44 mm in diameter and houses a Swiss automatic movement. Adorned with 945 natural pink sapphires weighing 110 carats , each stone was selected for its color and brilliance. This watch retails for US$250,000.
Following the success of the pink model, Hiaeve expanded the collection by adding blue, green and red versions. Each watch contains 945 precious stones : the Hue Blue has 108 carats of blue sapphires, the Hue Green incorporates 115 carats of tsavorites and the Hue Red is adorned with 105 carats of rubies.
Mayweather purchased all four models before their public release, becoming the first owner of the entire collection. » It’s hard to pick one, they’re all exceptional watches . I’m proud of Avi and I support him. He’s my friend, and if I want to spend time with him, I can. The same can’t be said for the owner of Rolex or Audemars Piguet,» Mayweather said.
The relationship between Mayweather and Avi & Co. goes beyond watches. The firm recently designed a custom necklace for the boxer, featuring two gold boxing gloves. For Hiaeve, creating his own jewelry and watch brand and attracting clients of this caliber is the fulfillment of a dream: «Everything I do started as a dream. Being able to build my own brand, my own jewelry and watches, and having clients like Floyd, is amazing.»
