Timepieces are fast becoming the main characters of the entertainment industry.
Beyond mere functional adornments, watches now serve as important symbols of character identity, style and narrative significance – both in film and television.
From iconic timepieces gracing the wrists of suave secret agents, to meticulously selected vintage watches reflecting the historical backdrop of certain dramas, these horological marvels add layers of depth to storytelling.
Watches can also be spotted at all the big awards shows. A wristwatch is quite the essential fashion accessory for both men and women alike.
If red carpets are now seen as the fashion runways of the 21st century, then a beautiful timepiece worn by an A-list celebrity is like the event’s defining focus.
Not forgetting too that actors and actresses are increasingly being taken on as ambassadors for watch brands.
What are they wearing?
Some of the biggest names in watchmaking were seen “attending” the recent Oscars. Omega, Cartier, TAG Heuer and Bulgari made their appearance on the red carpet.
Cillian Murphy wore an Omega De Ville Prestige. The actor, who went on to win the “Best Actor” award, strapped on a 41mm model in steel, which features a gorgeous pine-green dial in a sun-brushed finish.
Cillian Murphy spotted wearing an Omega De Ville Prestige at this year’s Oscars.
“Best Supporting Actress” winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph turned heads with her Omega Constellation. It is a 28mm model in steel and meteorite dial.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph dazzled at the Oscars with her Omega Constellation watch.
Others like director Cord Jefferson (winner of “Best Adapted Screenplay”) was seen with a white-dial Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch. Colman Domingo opted for an Omega De Ville Prestige and Brendan Fraser stepped out with a yellow-gold Omega Constellation.
Cord Jefferson wore an Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch.
While performing the “I’m Just Ken” song, Ryan Gosling strapped on a TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma. This is a new model announced in January, and features lab-grown diamonds.
Last year’s winner of “Best Supporting Actor”, Ke Huy Quan, wore a Cartier Santos-Dumont Micro-Rotor. This is a model released in 2023, and carries a small plane at 9 o’clock that helps power the whole watch.
Ke Huy Quan opted for a Cartier watch for his Oscar appearance. It features a case in 18k yellow gold with blue lacquer, blued-steel hands and a blue alligator leather strap.
Rapper and singer Bad Bunny, on the other hand, chose the very intricate Cartier Tank Cintree Skeleton. His is a platinum and 18kt white gold version featuring a sapphire cabochon on the crown.
Finally, you have Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Bulgari Octo Finissimo. The timepiece – measuring just 5.15mm thin – looks stunning on his thick wrists, and was colour matched with a metallic satin suit.
The Bulgari Octo Finissimo featuring a titanium case and grey dial is seen peeking out from under Dwayne Johnson’s sleeve.
Scene stealers, indeed
Beyond the red carpet, timepieces are also holding their own on screen.
There is no talking about James Bond without bringing to mind the fictional secret agent’s love for fine watches. Film after film, you will be able to spot Bond rocking an Omega – no matter if he’s dodging bullets and explosions, or looking sharp drinking a martini in a suit.
Lindy Hemming, the Oscar-winning costume designer, was responsible for casting 007’s Omega watch in 1995’s GoldenEye.
She has been quoted as saying, “I was convinced that Commander Bond, a naval man, a diver and a discreet gentleman of the world would wear the Seamaster with the blue dial.”
In 2021’s No Time To Die, Daniel Craig is armed with the Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition.
Bond went on to wear numerous Omega models in subsequent films.
These include the Seamaster Diver 300M Co-Axial and a Planet Ocean 600M Co-Axial in Casino Royale (2006); Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M Co-Axial in Quantum Of Solace (2008); Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M and Seamaster Aqua Terra in Skyfall (2012); Seamaster 300 Spectre Limited Edition and Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M in Spectre (2015); and Seamaster Diver 300M 007 Edition in No Time To Die (2021).
Other watch brands making their mark on screen include Cartier and Breitling.
In Bullet Train (2022), the deadly female assassin, played by Joey King, is seen wearing the Cartier Tank Solo watch. Her counterpart in the film, Brad Pitt, wore a Breitling AVI ref. 765 1953 re-edition.
Then there is TAG Heuer in The Gray Man (2022). Gosling, playing a CIA agent, wears a Carrera Three Hands.
“I play Sierra Six in the action-packed film, The Gray Man. Six is an agent whose life is on the line, every second of the day and he needs a watch that’s got him covered,” the actor said in a press statement at that time.
“It takes precision and dedication for him to survive, and so it seemed like the perfect fit for him to wear the TAG Heuer Carrera Three Hands.”
Putting a face to the watch
With all that said, film stars have become an integral part of the watchmaking family. Appointed as ambassadors or appearing in campaigns, they are seen as effective reps of horology.
One very good example is Gosling as the ambassador of TAG Heuer. The man was appointed to the role back in 2021.
Ryan Gosling is an integral part of the TAG Heuer family. In the 2023 campaign, he wears a TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox.
He said: “Partnering with them was an easy decision and time, in general, is just something I think a lot about now. My kids are growing up fast so I keep an eye on the clock in a way I never used to.”
Similarly, Daniel Craig – having played Bond in five films – is part of the Omega family.
He even helped design the Omega watch he wore in No Time To Die. His knowledge of Bond is said to be critical in creating a suitable new timepiece for the spy.
“When they showed it to me, I genuinely said, ‘You’ve done it’. There was nothing in the end that I needed to add,” Craig commented, about the collaboration.
“There’s the style of it, of course, but it’s also close to a military watch, and you have that heritage with Omega and the British army watches of the second World War. All of those things that I wanted to connect through, they’ve done it.”
Cartier also looks to the cinema world for kinship, with stars like Paul Mescal and Yara Shahidi currently part of the brand’s family of ambassadors. Not forgetting how Pitt is part of the Breitling family, as well.
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