Basketball: When Luxury Takes the Ball and Runs With It

Sitting on a coffee table: a Tiffany-blue basketball stamped with the logo of the famous New York jewelry house (now owned by luxury giant LVMH). Posted on the Instagram account of American artist Daniel Arsham—who collaborates with the world’s biggest brands, including Dior, Hublot, and Porsche—this image says a lot about one of the major trends of recent years in the world of luxury fashion and ready-to-wear.

In 2023, Tiffany also released a legendary pair of sneakers with Nike and a range of spinoff products inspired by the orange ball, including a limited-edition collection of solid silver accessories: a whistle, a shoehorn, a shoe brush… all created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Air Force 1, a sports shoe that left its mark on its time and fashion history.

“Each design is both a celebration of the Nike x Tiffany & Co. Air Force 1 1837 and an example of the Maison’s unique craftsmanship and artistry,” the jeweler stated at the time. It's worth noting that Tiffany & Co. has been making the Larry O’Brien trophy awarded to NBA champions since 1977. In 2022, in honor of the NBA’s 75th anniversary, they redesigned all of the league’s major trophies. The prestigious jeweler produces nine NBA trophies and two for the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). More than just one of the world’s most followed and broadcasted sports, basketball represents a lifestyle—that of streetwear and “cool”—which continues to influence and inspire unexpected sectors.

Chanel, Dior, and Louis Vuitton have all created highly sought-after limited editions of basketballs branded with their logos, either gifted to select individuals or showcased in boutique window displays. On Place Vendôme in Paris, designer and jeweler Lorenz Bäumer crafted an exceptional Baccarat crystal decanter for Hennessy (LVMH), shaped like a basketball, to hold the brand’s finest eaux-de-vie in celebration of the NBA’s 75th anniversary.

“The spherical design of the decanter is inspired by the perfect shape of a basketball,” Bäumer explained. “Like jewels, cognac and basketball come from the earth and create bonds between people.” The result was a 1.75-liter decanter, hand-crafted from Baccarat crystal, limited to just 75 pieces worldwide. Each came in an orange leather case reminiscent of a basketball court, along with Baccarat crystal glasses, a curved pipette, and a golden key to unlock the decanter and its box.
This limited edition represents the union of luxury, sport, and tradition—offering a unique sensory experience for lovers of both cognac and basketball.
The square leather case mimics the material and feel of a basketball perfectly. It was released as part of a U.S. partnership between Hennessy and the NBA, an association that would be impossible in France due to the Evin law regulating alcohol promotion.