Each yr since 2019, I’ve sifted via a yr’s value of superstar watch sightings on red-carpets, VIP events, speak exhibits, and papped-up espresso runs to seek out the most well-liked items and types in famous-people-dom. I do it as a result of I feel it helps us perceive which watches are effervescent into the mainstream. It’s additionally an index of need: which watches most attraction to an viewers with limitless entry, a lot of funds, and loads of occasions on the schedule? These are the individuals luxurious watches are virtually made for—and these are the watches they wore most.
The Most Common Watch of the Yr
Tyler Ross/Getty Pictures
For the primary time in 4 years, the most well-liked watches amongst celebrities has modified. A little bit bit, no less than. Up to now, the checklist was caught in stasis: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Patek Philippe Nautilus, and a Rolex. This yr, the ultimate tally offers us a brand new, if much less numerous, prime three.
1. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
2. Rolex GMT-Grasp II
T-3. Rolex Daytona
T-4. Rolex Day-Date
The Royal Oak was far and away 2022’s hottest timepiece—so many celebs wore it I really needed to add columns to the Google Sheet I’ve used to maintain observe of the watches through the years. The explanation for all of the RO love this yr? The watch was celebrating its 50th anniversary and AP turned out a big handful of various special-edition watches—that wound up on the wrists of LeBron James, John Mayer, Serena Williams, Anthony Davis, and Ben Simmons. The blue-ceramic Royal Oak was additionally a large hit amongst celebrities. All these particular editions pushed the watch to unprecedented recognition.
Franco Origlia
In the meantime, the GMT-Grasp was the spotlight of Rolex’s new releases from this yr. The Crown put out a brand new destro (left-handed) model of the mannequin with a green-and-black “Sprite” bezel. People like Russell Westbrook and Roger Federer wore that piece, whereas many others felt the necessity to showcase their very own GMTs. This isn’t only a celebrity-collector phenomenon, both. Every time Rolex places out a brand new model of a mannequin, it all the time creates demand for adjoining fashions from the previous. Apparently celebrities are simply as simply persuaded. Out of all of the watch’s flavors, the favourite was the black-and-brown Root Beer.
Don Arnold
Juan Ocampo
It’s not shocking that the Day-Date and Daytona are fashionable, however it’s shocking to see which watch they got rid of the rostrum. The Nautilus, after a three-year run of being a part of the favored crowd, has been unceremoniously dumped. In fact, it’s much less prefer it misplaced standing and extra like its household pulled them out of faculty solely. Patek discontinued its hottest model of the Nautilus, the easy 5711, as a result of it was hogging an excessive amount of of the highlight. Ever since that call, the watch’s numbers on this unscientific rating have decreased. I don’t wish to overstate the Nautilus’s decline an excessive amount of, although. If we have been to take away Rolex from this train, the Nautilus could be the subsequent hottest watch after the Royal Oak.
The Model of the Yr
Rolex, once more, was miles forward of the competitors. I counted 64 Rolex items on superstar wrists this yr, and AP was subsequent with 33—solely two of which weren’t a Royal Oak, Royal Oak Idea, or Royal Oak Offshore. That’s what makes Rolex’s dominance so spectacular: it will get the job completed with large variety. After the Royal Oak, the subsequent most-spotted items have been completely different items from Rolex: the GMT, the Daytona, and the Day-Date.
The consistency of those outcomes through the years hides a number of the modifications taking place within the background. Celeb wristwear has undoubtedly diversified since 2019. I’m recognizing manufacturers like Omega, Cartier, IWC, Tag Heuer, and even Vacheron Constantin way more than I used to be simply a few years in the past.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin
Dominique Charriau
Robust run for Richard Mille, although. What was one of many prime manufacturers in 2019–35 spots!—is in freefall. I solely noticed the model’s watches six instances in 2022.
Largest Riser
Images: Getty Pictures, Tag Heuer; Collage: Gabe Conte
I noticed twice as many Tag Heuer watches as I did final yr. And, better of all, the model is doing it with out one killer watch sopping up all the eye. Celebrities are spreading the wealth round to watches just like the Monaco, Carrera, and Aquaracer. Clearly, partnerships with of us like Ryan Gosling, Jacob Elordi, and Jimmy Butler are paying off. Now, I simply want to seek out out which A-lister is courageous sufficient to put on the model’s new Mario Kart watch.
The Glad-You-Made-It Award
Frazer Harrison/GA/Getty Pictures
Vacheron Constantin went from the unenviable goose egg to 6 spots this yr. Fairly good! And each time the model reminded us why it’s so particular, and why you won’t see it on the wrists of that many celebrities. The model’s watches are purposefully not flashy—however celebrities like Tom Cruise, Steph Curry, and Michael B. Jordan confirmed why they’re nice red-carpet companions.
