Oakland Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler made baseball history on August 21st when he became the first known Major League Baseball player to wear a watch during an official game. Sporting a striking lime green timepiece from Swiss watchmaker NORQAIN, Butler took to the field during a matchup against the Houston Astros, drawing attention both during batting practice and throughout the contest.
The watch in question, the Wild ONE Skeleton Gecko, carries a price tag of approximately $7,000 and was specifically engineered for athletic performance. Constructed from NORQAIN’s proprietary lightweight material that weighs just 78 grams, the timepiece features a durable shock-absorbing case, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and a flexible mesh band designed to resist sweat absorption. The bold gecko-green dial and matching strap made the accessory impossible to miss on Butler’s wrist.
The milestone is particularly notable given NORQAIN’s sports heritage. The brand, which maintains official partnerships with professional hockey players including two-time NHL MVP Sidney Crosby, currently serves as the Official Luxury Sports Watch of the National Hockey League. Despite its hockey roots, NORQAIN has been expanding into other sports, with endorsements from tennis champion Stan Wawrinka and Olympic skier Federica Brignone. While Major League Baseball contains no explicit prohibition against watches, safety concerns regarding potential injuries have historically discouraged their use during play.
Though the Athletics lost their game against Houston 4-0, Butler’s history-making watch was donated to MLB for a charitable auction.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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