The 7 Best Watches of the Week: A Mix of Indie Brands and Luxury Names
Timothée Chalamet's Petermann Bédat and Bad Bunny's Cartier Take Center Stage
The world of watches is a fascinating one, with each week bringing a new crop of timepieces that capture the attention of watch enthusiasts and fashion-forward celebrities alike. This week, we're highlighting some of the most notable watches, from the rare and elegant Petermann Bédat to the coveted Cartier pieces. But here's where it gets controversial...
Timothée Chalamet, the rising star of Hollywood, has been making waves with his choice of watches. His recent wear of a Petermann Bédat Ref. 1967, a rare and elegant timepiece, has sparked curiosity among watch enthusiasts. The watch, released by the Swiss duo Gaël Petermann and Florian Bédat in 2017, is a niche independent brand, not yet a household name like Rolex. But Chalamet's choice has the potential to change that, what we'll call the 'Chalamet effect'.
And it's not just Chalamet who's making waves with his watch choices. Bad Bunny, the Latin trap singer, has been flexing his Cartier collection, including a coveted platinum Crash that can cost upward of $600,000 on the secondary market. But here's the twist: while Chalamet's choice of Petermann Bédat is a rare and elegant timepiece, Bad Bunny's Cartier pieces are more about the status symbol.
So, who's making the best watch flexes of the week? Let's take a closer look at some of the most notable watches, from Chris Hemsworth's Patek Philippe Nautilus Travel Time to Sam Richardson's Cartier Santos.
Chris Hemsworth: Patek Philippe Nautilus Travel Time
Chris Hemsworth, the Thor star, seems to have a penchant for Chopard and Audemars Piguet, but he's also a fan of Patek Philippe. During a recent SiriusXM interview, he wore a Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph, a rose-gold iteration released in 2021. The watch features indications for two time zones and an analog date at 12 o'clock, synchronized with local time. It retails for $139,410.
Bad Bunny: Cartier Crash and Tortue
Bad Bunny, the Latin trap singer, has been flexing his Cartier collection, including a vintage Tortue and a Crash. The Crash, released in 2023, features a flashy new platinum case and an updated movement that provides a power reserve of 38 hours. It retails for £43,000 (roughly $53,500), but can go for as much as $600,000 on the secondary market.
James Marsden: Rolex Explorer
James Marsden, the actor who became an official ambassador for IWC in 2020, has been spotted wearing a Rolex Explorer for the Apple TV Press Day. The classic piece pairs an Oystersteel case and bracelet with a distinctive black dial showing the signature three, six, and nine numerals. It's a simpler watch than his usual IWC chronos, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The 36 mm costs $7,900, while the 40 mm retails for $8,350.
Timothée Chalamet: Petermann Bédat Ref. 1967
Chalamet's Petermann Bédat Ref. 1967 is a rare and elegant timepiece. Inside the 39 mm rose-gold case lies a vintage-inspired sector dial with a sapphire chapter ring glimpsing the unconventional movement within. The caliber 171 features a rare deadbeat, or jumping, seconds complication that makes the seconds hand jump once per second, rather than completing the smooth, continuous sweep that is customary in mechanical timepieces. It's the stuff of a watch nerd's dream.
Sam Richardson: Cartier Santos
Sam Richardson, the actor, has been spotted wearing two different blue-dialed watches: a TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph and a Cartier Santos. This particular iteration of the 1900s icon features a 35.1 mm square-shaped steel case, a graduated blue dial topped with steel sword-shaped hands, a seven-sided crown set with a faceted blue spinel, and an integrated steel bracelet. It retails for $7,750.
Simu Liu: Rolex GMT-Master II
Simu Liu, the actor, has been spotted in two different iterations of the Rolex GMT-Master II. This particular one is nicknamed 'Batman' due to the blue and black hues on the rotatable Cerachrom bezel. The piece features a 40 mm Oystersteel case, a black dial, and an Oyster bracelet. The first Batman (Ref. 116710BLNR) was introduced in 2013, then the model was given a new movement (Calibre 3285) and rereleased in 2019. The latter (Ref. 126710BLNR) will set you back $11,800.
John Cena: Rolex Explorer II
John Cena, the wrestler-turned-actor, has been spotted wearing his trusty Rolex Explorer II to the Apple TV Press Day. The discontinued reference is quite coveted among collectors, and the piece features an Oystersteel case, a 'polar' white dial with luminous markers, a stainless steel bezel with a 24-hour scale, and a matching steel Oyster bracelet. The price on the secondary market is around $12,000, but Rolex did release a near-identical successor (Ref. 226570) in 2021, which will cost you $10,600.
So, who's making the best watch flexes of the week? It's a mix of indie brands and luxury names, each with its own unique story and appeal. But here's the part most people miss... the watches are not just about the brand or the price tag. They're about the story behind the watch, the person wearing it, and the moment it captures. And that's what makes the world of watches so fascinating.
