Celebrity watch collections are a great source of inspiration. Here are a few particularly important and fascinating ones.
Before there were influencers, there were celebrities. They became famous because they starred in movies or TV shows or topped music charts. Unlike social media influencers and reality stars, these “proper” celebs weren’t always forthcoming about their lifestyles. This is probably why celebrity watches are so engaging. They give us insight into their tastes and personalities, and it’s also fun to see who might have similar proclivities.
And, of course, there are the famous folks who are notorious watch nerds. Sylvester Stallone recently sold a few of his timepieces through Sotheby’s. John Mayer has made it no secret that he’s a big watch collector. Undeniably, household names cosigning on a particular model or brand often has a ripple effect in the fashion world.
Here are a few noteworthy ones.
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Brad Pitt: Sporty Chronos and Elegant Dress Watches
A few years ago, Breitling made Brad Pitt a celebrity ambassador for the brand. When watch brands are tapping you, it means you’ve got a reputation for the hobby. Or, you’re just really famous. In Pitt’s case, it’s both.
In 2022’s Bullet Train, Pitt’s character wears a Breitling AVI Ref.765, which is a re-edition of a 1953 model. This bold chronograph features tan indices and syringe hands against a black dial face. Perhaps it’s hat-tipping to the tropical look since Breitling based it on a vintage.
Other Breitlings he wears in real life include the Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph and the Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph Norton. The Norton was also born of a three-way partnership: Pitt, Norton Motorcycles, and Breitling.
While his tastes range, it seems his favorite sporty pieces are often associated with automotive sports, hence all of the chronographs. He’s even been seen in a white Rolex Daytona. Pitt has also worn a Rolex GMT-Master II. However, instead of the more iconic Pepsi version, Pitt opted for a black and gold reference 116718.
Another favorite brand of his? Vacherone Constantine. He wore the rare stainless steel Jumbo 222, reference 4401, during the final men’s match at Wimbledon in 2024. And he’s been seen in an 18k gold Vacheron Constantin Historique 222. As far as dress watches go, he’s also worn the clean and retro-cool Patek Philippe Ellipse 3748.
I love that his fanciful taste in dress watches balances out his taste for sporty, engineering-forward tool watches.
James Cameron: A Spirit of Adventure Rooted in Divers
Long before film director James Cameron became a Rolex ambassador, the famed director was a fan. In fact, his gift to himself after the success of 1986’s Aliens was a Rolex Submariner he’d been eyeing. And here’s the cool part. Cameron is actually a legitimate diver. He’s been scuba diving since he was in his ‘20s, so it makes sense that he’s filled his collection with dive watches.
Cameron even has a submersible called the Deepsea Challenger, which he stocked with Rolex watches. The crown worked with Cameron to test some prototypes. During a seven-hour submersion via the Deepsea Challenger, the watches continued to tell accurate time. Even more, they survived ascension and decompression.
Because of this, Rolex released a special James Cameron Deepsea Challenge Sea-Dweller. The brand based this release on the 116660 Sea-Dweller, which looks like a beefed-up Submariner. It boasts a whopping 3,900 meters of water resistance. For the Cameron version, Rolex added an impeccably murky dial featuring moments of blue and black to represent the ocean depths.
Other models in Cameron’s collection of watches include the Hamilton Khaki Navy Frogman, the Bremont Supermarine S2000, the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean, the Panerai Luminor Submersible, and the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms.
He also has some non-dives, including the Rolex Explorer II and the Rolex Milgauss. Still, if you want your watch collection to exude a spirit of adventure, Cameron’s line-up is excellent inspiration.
Sylvester Stallone: Buying, Selling, Gifting
What I love about Sylvester Stallone’s watch collection is that he chooses watches that kind of look like him. Since the ‘90s, he’s been a fan of Panerai, known for its bigger-is-better aesthetic and Italian heritage. So, again, I kind of like him.
Sly represents a cool sector of watch collectors — my favorite, in fact. He’s an active member of the collector community with a rotating collection. He balances his love for designs with investment but doesn’t seem to let the latter overtake the former. He’s even gifted Arnold Schwarzenegger some watches. This is why he’s one of Hollywood’s most influential watch collectors. Apparently, he started collecting when he saw Greg Allman’s gold Rolex while Allman was napping on the same flight he was on.
In 2024, he revealed that he had a never-worn Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime 6300, which he sold at Sotheby’s for $5.4 million.
Other watches you can see Sly wearing include the Luminor Regatta 1950 Rattrapante, the Luminor PAM127, and the Luminor Submersible Chrono. And as many big-name watch collectors do, he’s gone for some rarities. He owns an Egiziano Limited Edition.
Stallone told Sotheby’s that he believes that sometimes you have to let go of watches. He does this by gifting pieces from his collection away or by selling them. When asked why he was selling his rare Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, he simply said, “It’s someone else’s time to enjoy it.”
Jay-Z: Hip-Hop’s Watch Influencer
Jay-Z has long been a proponent of leveling up the aesthetics of the hip-hop community. In fact, in the aughts, he urged rappers to incorporate more refined brands into their lifestyles. Cristal Champagne was one of them. The managing director of the champagne brand at the time implied that he wasn’t happy about this.
Even more, if you look at the history of hip-hop jewelry and watches, you’ll see that many high-end brands were often allergic to the “less classy” hip-hop community. Times, thankfully, have changed. Jay-Z is a big reason for this change.
I think it’s telling that he and Beyonce were in a Tiffany ad in recent years. In 2005, when Jay-Z was celebrating ten years in the music industry, Audemars Piguet tapped him for a collaboration. To celebrate this milestone, they designed a bigger, slightly more sparkle-forward Offshore.
Jay-Z’s collection represents how one can class it up without forgetting your roots. Yes, there are more refined, understated pieces in there. But hip-hop aesthetics are celebratory, so the bigger, blingier, and more colorful models are in there, too.
The iconic rapper has an elegant but industrial-looking Hublot Classique. He also has a very old-money Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Ultra Thin Tribute to 1931, a similar watch to the King’s. And, of course, to add something with cool factor, he has Richard Mille RM027 Tourbillon. It also matches his love for an all-black aesthetic.
John Mayer: A True Watch Nerd
Musician John Mayer is a quintessential collector. His tastes have changed as he’s grown up, and his collection has changed as his budget has. Today, there are rumors that his watch collection is worth several millions. Truly, he’s just one of us — but with a higher net worth. There’s another rumor going around that his watch collection makes up a quarter of that net worth.
Even his first watch was a Rolex Explorer II, a common and respectable first big-budget buy. It was (one of) my first watches, too.
Mayer hasn’t been shy about talking about his love of horology. In interviews with Esquire and Hodinkee, it’s clear he knows what he’s talking about. He loves the engineering and craft of it all, in addition to the style.
One of his watches, the gold and green Rolex Daytona 116508, is even nicknamed The John Mayer. He talked so highly about it during an interview that demand increased rapidly. No one but Mayer himself knows exactly what’s in his collection. However, here are some pieces we’ve seen him in or that he’s referenced.
The Patek Patek Philippe Ref. 5396G, which is one out of a 100-piece run. The Rolex 6263 Paul Newman. The IWC Big Pilot Reference 5002. The Batman Rolex GMT with a black and blue bezel. Several vintage Submariners. The Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph 5970. The Patek Philippe 5164 Travel Timer. His collection is a full-on who’s who.
Conclusion: They’re (Sort of) Just Like Us
Celebrity watches are a fascinating topic, one that continues to capture our attention. It’s a true testament to the enduring appeal of horology. It doesn’t matter your background; watches appeal to everyone, celebrities and, well, non-celebrities alike.
Many watch lovers wonder how they’d take advantage of being a household name when it comes to their collections. I’d go the James Cameron route and lean hard into the adventure component.
Which celebrity collector would you like to emulate? Let us know in the comments!
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