Luxury Watches Spotted at the 2023 Academy Awards

A variety of elegant timepieces adorned the wrists of celebrities in this year’s Oscars, including Best Actress awardee Michelle Yeoh and Best Actor awardee Brendan Fraser. 

Finely-crafted watches seemed to be the accessory of choice for many of the attendees in this year’s Academy Awards. A vast assortment of luxury timepieces were spotted by watch aficionados, many of which sported unique designs that strayed away from the more traditional leather-strap styles usually worn to black-tie events

But why were watches the centerpiece of many stars’ ensembles in the Oscars? An article from GQ speculates that the boom might’ve occurred due to widespread acceptance of casual pieces and experimental styles in similar events. Less formal watches are becoming the norm, so celebrities can now choose from a larger selection of designs and brands. 

READ ALSO: An Emotional Win: Ke Huy Quan Is This Year’s Best Supporting Actor At The Oscars

For the curious—and the watch enthusiasts out there—below is an overview of some memorable timepieces worn by celebrities during the 95th Academy Awards: 

Michelle Yeoh – Richard Mille Sapphire RM 07-02

Michelle Yeoh made headlines as the first Asian woman to win an Oscar for her lead role in Everything Everywhere All at Once—which swept the board at the Oscars after taking home several awards including Best Picture. So it’s only fitting that the actress wore a watch as stunning and unique as her talent, namely Richard Mille’s RM 07-02. 

Yeoh has had a longstanding relationship with the brand’s founder, which is why a one-of-a-kind variant of the watch was made for her red carpet look. The RM 07-02 models usually come with gem-set dials in colors like pink, green, and blue—but Yeoh’s special watch is encrusted with clear sapphires instead. 

Michelle Yeoh wearing the Richard Mille Sapphire RM 07-02
Yeoh wearing the Richard Mille Sapphire RM 07-02/Photo via Instagram @richardmille
Richard Mille Sapphire RM 07-02
The more common variation of Richard Mille’s RM 07-02/Photo from the official Richard Mille website

Brendan Fraser – Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope

Fraser won Best Actor in this year’s Academy Awards for his emotional role in A24’s The Whale—a well-deserved milestone that shows how far he’s come as a performance artist. Omega’s Speedmaster Chronoscope adorned the 54-year-old’s wrist during the ceremony, with its signature “snail” dial that can keep track of almost everything, from a wearer’s speed to their own heartbeat. 

Brendan Fraser wearing Omega's Speedmaster Chronoscope
Brendan Fraser wearing Omega’s Speedmaster Chronoscope/Photo via Instagram @wattphoto
Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope
The Omega Speedmaster Co‑Axial Master Chronometer/Photo from Omega’s official website

Ke Huy Quan – Omega Constellation Globemaster

Another Omega watch wearer was Ke Huy Quan, winner of this year’s Best Supporting Actor for his role in Everywhere Everything All at Once. The Vietnamese-born American actor sported Omega’s Constellation Globemaster, but switched out the watch’s usual stainless steel strap for a leather one—a classy choice that suited the occasion. 

Ke Huy Quan wearing Omega's Constellation Globemaster
Ke Huy Quan wearing Omega’s Constellation Globemaster during his touching Oscars acceptance speech/Photo via Instagram @kehuyquan
Omega Constellation Globemaster
The Omega Constellation Globemaster Co‑Axial Master Chronometer/Photo from Omega’s official website

Andrew Garfield – Omega DeVille Tresor

It appears that Omega was the favored brand for quite a few actors, as Andrew Garfield also wore a timepiece from the brand. This isn’t particularly surprising, given that the English-American star has been wearing Omega watches to events for years. This year’s choice of timepiece was no less stunning than those worn before it; the actor chose Omega’s DeVille Tresor Co-Axial Master Chronometer

Andrew Garfield wearing the Omega DeVille Tresor
Andrew Garfield wearing the Omega DeVille Tresor/Photo via Instagram @checkthetag
Omega DeVille Tresor Master Co‑Axial Chronometer
The Omega DeVille Tresor Master Co‑Axial Chronometer/Photo from Omega’s official website

Paul Mescal – Cartier Tank Chinoise

Paul Mescal has risen to fame thanks to his roles in the BAFTA-winning show Normal People and 2022’s widely-acclaimed film Aftersun. The Irish actor wore Cartier’s Tank Chinoise, a popular dress watch that’s recognized for its unconventional design—thick bars that line the top and bottom of its case. While the model’s rose gold variety is a crowd favorite, Mescal opted to wear a platinum version, which looked distinguished with his black-tie attire. 

Paul Mescal wearing the Cartier Tank Chinoise
Paul Mescal wearing the Cartier Tank Chinoise with his Gucci suit for the Oscars/Photo via Instagram @gregwilliamsphotography
Cartier Tank Chinoise in yellow gold
Cartier’s Tank Chinoise in yellow gold/Photo from Cartier’s official website

Hong Chau – Panerai Luminor Due Luna

Thai-American actress Hong Chau is known for playing memorable supporting characters with strong dedication, as her work in films like The Menu and The Whale have shown. For this year’s Oscars, Chau wore Panerai’s Luminor Due Luna, making her the first woman in the brand’s history to wear one of its watches to the red carpet. As the name suggests, the elegant watch comes with a Moonphase complication. Chau’s version featured a soft pink strap that paired perfectly with her light pink dress. 

Hong Chau wearing Panerai's Luminor Due Luna
Hong Chau wearing Panerai’s Luminor Due Luna watch/Photo via Instagram @thefashioncourt
Panerai Luminor Due Luna
Panerai’s Luminor Due Luna/Photo from Panerai’s official website

Idris Elba – Gucci High Watchmaking G-Timeless Planetarium

When it comes to panache, Idris Elba didn’t hold back, as the award-winning English actor sported one of Gucci’s most impressive timepieces—the G-Timeless Planetarium. The Tourbillon model has 12 large beryl gemstones as indices, paired with a diamond studded star dial at the center. With a push of a button, the gem-set wheel spins to create a dazzling light show. 

Idris Elba wearing Gucci's G-Timeless Planetarium while posing beside his wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba
Idris Elba wearing Gucci’s G-Timeless Planetarium while posing beside his wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, at the red carpet/Photo via Instagram @sabrinaelba
Gucci G-Timeless Planetarium
The Gucci G-Timeless Planetarium/Photo from GPHG’s (Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève) official website

Banner Photo via Instagram @wattphoto.

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