From Rolex to Omega, the best luxury watches worn in this year’s Oscar-nominated films

The watches in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’, ‘Elvis’, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and other movies depicted the characters’ journeys and added to the storylines

Rolex founder Wilsdorf once said the Oscars is an ode to “work done handsomely”, a standard shared by the Swiss luxury watch masion, which is perhaps why the brand has been the Academy Awards’ lead sponsor since 2017.

In fact, this isn’t the only way in which watches and films have formed a relationship. Many of this year’s Oscar-nominated movies feature a moment for watches to shine. From Austin Butler’s vintage watches in Elvis to Tom Cruise’s Porsche Design Chronograph 1 in Top Gun: Maverick, several timepieces have caught the attention of horology enthusiasts. With input from Chrono24, an online marketplace for luxury watches, we share the onscreen moments in which watches shone in Oscar-nominated movies.

Don’t miss: Oscars 2023: The best red carpet looks, from Michelle Yeoh to Rihanna

Michelle Yeoh wearing Richard Mille in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’

RM 07-02 worn by Michelle Yeoh at the 95th Academy Awards (Photo: Instagram/distinct.timepieces)

Above RM 07-02 worn by Michelle Yeoh at the Oscars (Photo: Instagram / @distinct.timepieces)

Above Richard Mille 27-01 Rafael Nadal (Photo: Instagram / @luxeware)

Michelle Yeoh, brand ambassador of Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille, works at a laundrette in the film and plays several versions of herself in an alternate universe. In a few of the film’s scenes, the actress is seen wearing the Richard Mille 27-01 Rafael Nadal. In real life too, Yeoh, who won Best Actress at the 2023 Oscars, chose to accessorise her Dior haute couture gown at the Academy Awards with Moussaieff high jewellery and a diamond-paved Richard Mille RM 07-02.

Ke Huy Quan wearing Casio in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’

The Casio A158WA (Photo: Instagram/valuewatchcollector)

Above Casio A158WA (Photo: Instagram / @valuewatchcollector)

Everything Everywhere All at Once actor Ke Huy Quan picked up the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award wearing a sleek Omega Globemaster. However in the movie, his character wears a geeky-looking Casio A158WA, a retro digital watch with futuristic vibes that gives a tasteful nod to the 1980s.

Cate Blanchette sporting Rolex in ‘Tár’

Above Rolex Ovetto Oyster Perpetual 5050 from 1948 (Photo: courtesy of Chrono24)

“Time is the thing. Time is the essential piece of interpretation. You cannot start without me; I start the clock”, Cate Blanchett said in Tár, in which she played Lydia Tár, the first female chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. In the film, Blanchett wears a classic Rolex Ref. 5050 under her wrist rather than on top of it and fiddles with the crown of the watch—all indicating her obsession with time.

Austin Butler wearing Omega in ‘Elvis’

Above Omega Constellation, a model retailed by Tiffany & Co. in 1961 (Photo: courtesy of Chrono24)

Above Omega Constellation 1956 Black guilloché dial Reference 2852 (Photo: courtesy of Chrono24)

Elvis Presley was well known for his obsession with watches, so it’s only natural that his vintage watch collection would be featured in his Oscar-nominated biopic. When tasked with selecting a watch from a large selection for the film, the costume designers chose a black dial Omega Constellation—which actor Austin Butler wore while filming the scenes in which Elvis was positioned in Germany with the US Army from 1958 to 1960. An even rarer silver dial Omega Constellation surrounded by diamonds, which was a collaboration with Tiffany & Co in 1961, makes an appearance in the film. The singer’s record company, RCA, had gifted him the timepiece in 1961 to commemorate his achievement of selling 75 million records.

Tom Cruise sporting Porsche Design in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Above Porsche Design Chronograph 1 (Photo: courtesy of Chrono24)

Top Gun: Maverick, which won Best Sound at this year’s Academy Awards, was the long-awaited sequel to the 1986 film Top Gun. The film not only brought back Tom Cruise and his aerial stunts, but it also featured him wearing the Porsche Design Chronograph 1. This military-style watch was also used on the sets of the original Top Gun, thanks to its acquisition by film producer Jerry Bruckheimer after the first film was completed. He loaned the watch from his personal collection for the film’s shoot.

NOW READ:

Oscars 2023: Michelle Yeoh is a vision in white

Meet the Asian women designers defying boundaries and bringing new eastern aesthetics to high jewellery

Celebrating James Bond and Omega’s Adventures Over the Years

Topics

Oscars 2023 Rolex Omega Richard Mille Watches in films