NBA All-Star Tyrese Haliburton on His Love of Vintage and His New Movado Campaign

Welcome to Dialed In, Esquire’s column bringing you horological happenings and the most essential news from the watch world.

Tyrese Haliburton had a busy summer. The twenty-three-year-old NBA All-Star and point guard for the Indiana Pacers was also a member of Team USA at the Paris Olympics, bringing home the gold for the States. And to cap it all off, this month Haliburton joins a coterie of famous faces—actors Julianne Moore and Jessica Alba, rapper-actor Ludacris, and running back Christian McCaffrey—in watch brand Movado’s latest ad campaign, shot by fashion stars Mert Alas and Markus Piggott.

Movado was established in 1881 in Switzerland but became the crown jewel of North American Watch Corporation in 1983, when it was bought by Cuban-born Gedalio Grinberg. Now run by his son Efraim (CEO and chairman) and Efraim’s daughter Margot (president), Movado, which means “in motion” in Esperanto, prides itself on constant innovation in both function and design. Its iconic, modernist Museum watch, designed in 1947, was the first watch design to be accepted into New York’s Museum of Modern Art in 1960. It remains a best seller. We sat down with Haliburton to discuss watches, Movado, his love of vintage, and the new campaign.

A shot from the new campaign.

How did you get into watches?

I look back at pictures of me from high school, even when I was in the NBA, and nothing’s on my wrist. I look naked. I feel like I almost always need a watch on my wrist unless I’m just going to the gym or something. I think that was a big part of it.

What is it about watches that moves you?

I always knew that I wanted to get into things that will continue to have value, and a watch can be passed down from generation to generation. I don’t come from a ton of money, by any means, so for me, a watch is an investment for the future.

What was your first watch?

I went straight in. The first watch I ever bought was a gold Rolex 40mm Presidential white face Day-Date. I still wear it pretty often.

Gold or steel?

Gold. No question.

Haliburton wearing Movado’s gold Bold Quest watch in his new campaign.

How big is your collection?

I probably have seven or eight in my collection—all ones that I really love. I don’t buy something just for fun; it’s usually something that I get for a big event. When I made All-Star for the first time, I got a watch, and when I won a gold medal at the Olympics this summer. Well, okay, I haven’t got that watch yet, but I’m working on it….

How did your collaboration with Movado come about?

Efraim, the CEO, is really big into family. He’s a family-first guy. There was a video that came out of me when I signed my contract, thanking my family. I got pretty emotional in that speech. And I think that that kind of touched him. It was something that he could relate to. And I think that’s why he and the Movado team wanted to work with me.

How did the relationship develop?

I didn’t really know a ton about the brand, but as I got to learn more from Efraim and the team, I did as much research as I could about the Movado. There’s a timeless look that Movado has always had. So when I decided I wanted to do something with Movado, my goal was just “How can I do something that ties in with the history of the brand?”

Movado clearly did its research on you, too, right?

When we first got into conversation, they already knew how into vintage I am. That was the really cool part. I’m very into timeless things, things that have been around for a long time that can connect the old with the new. And I think that’s always been a part of me, even in the fashion world.

The Bold Quest.

Movado Bold Quest

$695 at movado.com

Is vintage a new discovery?

I’ve always been into vintage. I have an insane vintage-T-shirt collection. Wrestling shirts, rap shirts, basketball shirts. Oshkosh has a big air show they do every year; I collect those shirts as well. I just love the way that old pieces look and how they all have a story behind them. Even when I was little, if I got a new jacket or a new shirt or new shoes and somebody came with the same ones, I was always like, “Oh, I don’t like it anymore.” I like doing my own thing. I love the chase, scouring random websites. I’m into finding things that nobody else has.

Dressy or sporty?

Dressy for sure. I dress sporty my whole life. A lot of times when I’m going to the gym, I’m just throwing something on—sweatsuit, get to the gym, get out—but I’m looking for any excuse to go out to dinner or so I can get dressed nice and put on a watch.

A World War 1-era vintage Movado watch with a protective cage over the dial.

What’s your favorite Movado watch from the campaign?

It’s gold, called the Bold Quest, with a black dial; I wore it throughout the shoot. It’s inspired by the seventies and Movado’s archives.

You also made a beeline for some of Movado’s older pieces.

Yeah, I’m really into vintage watches, too, and when I first started working with Movado, they brought me a bunch of vintage watches to look at. One of them that really caught my eye was from World War I. It had a cage on the front to protect it from bullets. I thought that was unbelievable, and how can I get it on my wrist immediately? And they ended up getting it to me. I wore it all through the playoffs.