It’s been waiting in the wings since the start of the year, and last night’s 97th Academy Awards arrived in style as Hollywood’s finest graced the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre with an enviable array of timepieces.
Our list of noteworthy watches is almost as long as Adrien Brody’s acceptance speech – from the statement-makers like Cynthia Erivo’s Oz-inspired acrylics and Timothée Chalamet’s bejeweled Cartier stack, to the understated classics of Andrew Garfield’s JLC Reverso and Kieran Culkin’s Omega De Ville Trésor.
Best watches at the Oscars
Cynthia Erivo
Technically not a watch, but still a piece of horological wizardry. Though Wicked only delivered two out of the 10 Oscars it was lined up for, star Cynthia Erivo made up for it with some standing ovation-worthy nail art. Detailed with a tiny clock (something of the Cartier Tanks about it?), the manicure was inspired by the Wizard of Oz’s clock and the yellow brick road.
Edward Norton
One of the best new releases of the year so far, Edward Norton wore the Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 for the occasion. Newly reimagined in steel-on-steel after the 2022 reissue of an all-gold limited edition, the Historiques 222 is a revival of an iconic reference from 1977 designed by Jorg Hysek, and comes in at a pricey £30,900.
Timothée Chalamet
Question who is the most influential actor in the world of watches right now, and you’d be hard pressed to hear a name other than Timothée Chalamet. His pairing with Cartier – fittingly also one of the hottest maisons du jour – and the way in which he’s styled wearing its vintage timepieces is nothing short of genius. For the Oscars, the best actor nominee wore a Cartier Mini Baignoire, crafted in 18K yellow gold and embellished with diamonds, rubies, sapphires, artfully stacked with a gold bangle.
Raye
Seemingly the go-to timepiece for women on the red carpet, the mini Audemars Piguet Royal Oak in its frosted finish was spotted on the wrist of singer Raye, who performed at the ceremony. A fine example of watchmaking’s downsizing, the perfectly petite 23mm watch, the model is powered by the high-quality quartz caliber 2730 with a seven-year battery life and has a head-turning hammered finish.
Colman Domingo
His second year as an Academy Award Best Actor nominee, Colman Domingo accessorized his bold poppy-red suit with an Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch. Crafted from the brand’s signature 18K Canopus Gold, the custom baguette diamond-encrusted timepiece is inspired by the 4th generation Speedmaster style worn on the moon.
Kieran Culkin
Winner of the Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in ‘A Real Pain’, Kieran Culkin wore a De Ville Trésor in 18K Sedna Gold with a burgundy dial and burgundy leather strap. Measuring 40mm, it belongs to the Trésor family, first launched by Omega in 1949 and houses the legendary 30mm caliber – one of the most advanced mechanical movements today.
Coco Gauff
American tennis player Coco Gauff attended the star-studded Oscars ceremony wearing one of Rolex’s best sellers, reworked in 1957 for in a more feminine size to create the Oyster Perpetual Lady‑Datejust. Measuring 28mm, this yellow gold model features a mother-of-pearl dial detailed with a constellation of diamonds and sits on a President bracelet.
Paul Tazewell
Paul Tazewell became the first Black man to win an Oscar for best costume design, and collected his award wearing a IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar. The 42mm model is spotlighted for its emerald green dial and matching alligator leather strap, as well as it’s ineffably intricate movement which sees a moonphase display so precise that it will deviate from the actual phase of the moon by just one day after 577.5 years.
Elle Fanning
Making an ethereal entrance, Bob Dylan biopic actress Elle Fanning accessorized her Givenchy gown (Sarah Burton’s debut collection) with a Cartier Zelda Fine Jewelry watch. Crafted from rhodium-finish white gold and set with 112 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 0.31 carats, she wore it alongside a diamond Cartier choker necklace from 1958 that was “pulled from a vault.”
Andrew Garfield
An iconic piece of Art-Deco-inspired design, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Calendar has become a red carpet staple. Presenting an Oscar alongside Hollywood legend Goldie Hawn, Andrew Garfield wore the piece with a brown leather strap to match his monochrome brown suit – Mocha Mousse is Pantone’s Color of the Year after all.
Jeff Goldblum
Jeff Goldblum was caught pre Oscars ceremony in the audience having a good scroll on his phone – perhaps looking for another timepiece to add to his collection alongside the Vacheron Constantin Egerie Moonphase he was wearing. The limited-edition lilac model features a mother-of-pearl dial with a pleated dial motif said to be inspired by haute couture fabric. No less than 36 round-cut diamonds surround the moon and its starry sky, while its bezel is adorned with an additional 58 brilliant-cut diamonds.
Kit Connor
‘Heartstopper’ actor Kit Connor made his inaugural Oscars appearance wearing another first – the TAG Heuer Monaco Automatic Chronograph, which is the very first square and waterproof chronograph in the world. Crafted in a sleek all-black colorway, it keeps its racing inspirations with a contrasting red chronograph hand.