10 Iconic Watches in Movies That Will Amaze You

Over the years, some of our greatest movies have had some equally great watches appearing on the main characters’ wrists and we wanted to share with you some of our personal favorites. We’ll break down the history behind 10 of the most iconic watches to ever appear on film, point out some of their features, and tell you where you can find one of your own.

1. The Gold Rolex Day-Date from ​Glengarry Glen Ross (​1992)

Alec Baldwin’s character in this 1992 classic puts his characters through the ringer with the ABC motto “Always Be Closing.” He flaunts his gold Rolex Day-Date in the face of Ed Harris’ character to show off what a great salesman he is, an eminently unlikable move that underscores just how cruel Alec Baldwin’s character can be. The Day-Date is a classic watch that just exudes high class and elegance, with its pioneering feature of showing both the day of the week and the date (hence the name) at the same time. You can pick one up for yourself new for $30,000 to $40,000 depending on where you look, while used ones can be found closer to $15,000. 

• Perpetual movement

• Gold or platinum watchcase

• Gold or platinum strap

• Features the day and date at the same time

2. The Tag Heuer Monaco from ​Le Mans​ (1971)

Steve McQueen is a screen legend whose impact on fashion and culture can still be felt today. While many borrow from his style and look to influence their fashion statements, you can make a direct homage to this legend’s style with a Tag Heuer Monaco, featured in the landmark racing film ​Le Mans​. It stands out from most watches by having a highly unusual square face and is the first watch to ever feature an automatic chronograph, making timekeeping for things like racing that much more exciting. Whether you’re timing a race or timing how fast it takes you to get to the mailbox and back, you’ll have a blast with this unique timepiece’s chronographs. There are several models of Monaco available on the Heuer website, ranging in price from $2,400 to $8,100. Telegraph wrote a more detailed article about The Tag Haur Monaco here. 

• Movement: Calibre 11 or 12, quartz

• Stainless steel watch case

• Leather strap

• Features an automatic chronograph

3. The Seiko H558 from ​Predator (1987) 

When it comes to action heroes, very few can claim to do it better than the Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The man can save the world and mow down bad guys like no one’s business, and the Seiko H558 has been his watch of choice in several of his movies. The bone-crunching 1987 flick ​Predator​ was one of the movies that featured this orange beauty, as were ​Commando and ​The Running Man​. The white dial pops against the bright orange background of the watch face and makes a statement that few can look away from. Unlike the last two watches we covered, this one is available at a reasonable price point of $550 on Seiko’s website and the new version of it features solar charging. We found a great review of this watch by Urban Gentry on YouTube. Here it is: 

 

• Movement: Solar

• Plastic watch case

• Cloth strap

• Features digital time to accompany analogue

4. The Breitling Chrono Avenger from ​Blood Diamond (2006)

Leonardo DiCaprio has long rocked Tag Heuer watches, but in the gripping 2006 ​Blood Diamond,​ Leo switches it up with a Breitling Chrono Avenger as he navigates an unstable situation in conflict-rocked Sierra Leone. As he navigates the war-torn landscape, his 44mm Chrono Avenger stands out as a signifier of his status. Its titanium watch case is light yet tough and contrasts well with the leather strap as worn by DiCaprio on screen. As Leo and his enemies hunt down an elusive, expensive pink diamond, viewers get to see an extension of the star’s charisma through the fantastic timepiece he wears on his wrist. If you want to style like Leo, there are plenty of Chrono Avengers available for sale with the leather strap, with prices for a new one coming in around $3,500 to $4,000 while used ones sit closer to $2,500.

• Movement: 100 meters water resistant

• Titanium watch case

• Leather strap

• Features chronograph

5. The Panerai PAM 332 from ​The Expendables​ (2010)

Sylvester Stallone has been in some amazing movies over the years, but out of all the iconic roles that he has been in throughout the decades, one of our personal favourites is his role in the All-Star Game of action heroes, 2010s ​The Expendables.​ Not only does Stallone star in the lead role in this team-up of a dozen or so venerable action stars, but he’s also the co-writer and the director. His fingerprints are all over this movie, just like his fingerprints are on the success of Panerai watches. In 1993, Panerai started offering their watches and Sly was a huge fan from the start. Panerai is now a globally recognized brand and a lot of that success is attributable to Stallone’s early love of their work. This watch comes with a sky blue second hand and a chronograph, making a unique impression wherever someone takes it. If you want one of these beauties for yourself, you can find plenty on the resale market in the $12,000 to $20,000 zone. Worn and Wound writes an article about watches in The Expendable here.

• Movement: Calibre OP XVIII

• Stainless steel watch case

• Alligator strap

• Features split-second chronograph

6. The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch from Apollo 13 (​1995)

Getty Images / Gabe Conte

 

Get ready for another stellar adventure as we dive into the world of one of the most iconic watches to ever grace the silver screen: the Omega Speedmaster. This legendary timepiece, also known as the "Moonwatch," has a story that's truly out of this world.

Regarding iconic timepieces, the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch stands head and shoulders above the rest, thanks to its role in the thrilling 1995 movie "Apollo 13." Directed by Ron Howard, the film tells the gripping true story of the doomed 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission, featuring Tom Hanks as astronaut Jim Lovell. Talk about shooting for the stars!

In "Apollo 13," the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch isn't just an accessory but a crucial player in the race to bring the astronauts safely back to Earth. During a nail-biting scene, the crew, including Hanks as Lovell, relies on their trusty Speedmasters to time a critical 14-second engine burn that adjusts their trajectory for re-entry. And guess what? This isn't just Hollywood magic; the Omega Speedmaster played a vital role in the Apollo 13 mission. How's that for an out-of-this-world connection?

The Omega Speedmaster's appearance in "Apollo 13" is only part of its star-studded story. This watch has been the official watch of NASA astronauts since 1965, accompanying them on their lunar escapades and cementing its place in horological history. If that doesn't scream iconic, we don't know what does!

So, what makes the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch such a showstopper? With its sleek design, durable construction, and precision chronograph functionality, this watch is a reliable companion for spacefarers and a timepiece bound to turn heads right here on Earth.

To sum it up, the Omega Speedmaster is a watch that's truly made an impact in the cosmos and on the silver screen. Suppose you're looking to add a timepiece to your collection that's stunning and has a story that's out of this world. In that case, the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch is the one for you.

Now, fellow watch enthusiasts, strap in and prepare for liftoff as you embark on your interstellar journey with the Omega Speedmaster, a watch that's genuinely written its name among the stars.

 

7. The Hamilton Khaki Pilot Day Date from ​Interstellar​ (2014)

What do you know? Another watch from a movie that has to do with time travel. Except this time, the watches are directly tied to the time travel so it’s double cool. Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi epic features several watches, but the one that Matthew McConaughey’s character wears is a watch for pilots, more specifically the Hamilton Khaki Pilot Day Date. Like the Rolex from Glengarry Glen Ross​, this is a day date type of watch, which showcases both the day of the week and the date of the month on the face of the watch. Its black dial with silver touches on the numbers will make you feel a little like McConaughey when you go to the grocery store or the DMV or wherever you need to go. You can find a new one for around $700.

• Movement: ETA 2834-2

• Stainless steel case

• Stainless steel strap

• Comes with a day-date function

8. The Rolex Deepsea Sea-Dweller from ​Argo ​(2012)

 

This Best Picture winner features quite the anachronism when it comes to its on-screen wristwear. The film is set in 1979 during the Iranian hostage crisis and Ben Affleck, who starred in and directed the film, sports a Rolex Deepsea Seadweller. It’s a knockout punch of a watch, showing off an immense amount of luxury as Ben Affleck navigates this tumultuous diplomatic situation. There’s only one problem, though. This watch came out in the 2000s, meaning studious moviegoers will be able to spot that Affleck’s watch is out of place for the time period. This watch has a brilliant blue dial and a 44mm Oystersteel case to match its Oystersteel band. This watch is significantly more affordable than the ​Glengarry Glen Ross​ Rolex, coming in at about $13,000 new with secondhand ones coming in at about two-thirds that price. Here's a link to Rolex's Deep Sea-Dweller page, for those who want to find out more. 

• Movement: Calibre 3235

• Stainless steel case

• Stainless steel strap

• Comes with helium escape valve for diving

9. The Hamilton Ventura from ​Blue Hawaii​ (1961) and ​Men in Black ​(1997)

(Photo credit: NYTimes)

 

The King himself, one of the most legendary, if not the most legendary, figures in American music. Elvis is known for his music, yes, but many also remember his star turns in a great number of movies throughout the 1950s and 1960s. When it comes to watches making their star turns, Elvis has quite the contribution to the timepiece lexicon. In his 1961 performance in the film ​Blue Hawaii,​ Elvis sports one of the funkiest watches ever seen at that time, a Hamilton Ventura. Unlike the round cases of most watches or the square case seen in the Tag Heuer Monaco, this watch features a triangular, shield-shaped case and boasts the honour of being the first watch ever made with an electric movement, predating quartz movements by about a decade. It also appears as the watch of choice of the Men in Black from the four-film series most associated with Will Smith. This fantastic watch is available for purchase for a nice $845, making it a relatively affordable way to enhance your style. NYTimes has a great article about Hamilton watches has here is the link if you are interested to read it. 

• Movement: electric

• Stainless steel case

• Alligator strap

Let’s close this list out with a throwback watch from a recent movie. Dunkirk was the gripping story of evading a German attack in World War II. Tom Hardy is magnificent as a pilot and the piece of hardware he’s got on his wrist, an Omega CK2129, is the same model that Omega sent to British Navy and RAF pilots and soldiers. In fact, more than 100,000 of these timeless watches were sent to the front lines during that war, making it a unique collector’s item that is hard to come by these days. However, if you happen to sport one, you will likely be the coolest person in town as this watch just oozes old school class, not to mention the great story you’ll be able to tell when explaining its history. Models of this watch are rare, but one recently sold for about $7,500. If you want to find out more, ABlogToWatch has a great article about this particular watch as well.

• Stainless steel case

• Stainless steel strap

Bonus - The Rolex Submariner Ref 6538 from James Bond - Dr. No​ (1962)

Getty Images / Gabe Conte

 

Suppose you're a fan of both the silver screen and iconic watches. In that case, we can discuss the most legendary timepieces by mentioning the Rolex Submariner. After all, the watch graced the wrist of the suave and sophisticated James Bond himself. We're going down memory lane to explore the stainless steel beauty that made a splash (pun intended) in cinema.

The Rolex Submariner, specifically the Ref. 6538 model, is a watch that's not only impressive in design but also has a history that's intertwined with the irresistible charm of Bond, James Bond. First appearing on Sean Connery's wrist in the 1962 James Bond film "Dr. No," this timepiece quickly symbolized cool, elegance, and danger. Talk about ticking all the right boxes!

James Bond fans and watch enthusiasts know that the Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538 is the real deal regarding iconic watches. With its distinct black dial, rotating bezel, and stainless steel bracelet, this watch brand has cemented in the hall of fame of horological marvels.

The Rolex Submariner continued to make waves as James Bond's timekeeping companion in subsequent films like "From Russia with Love" (1963), "Goldfinger" (1964), and "Thunderball" (1965), all featuring the dashing Sean Connery. It's safe to say that this watch survived the test of time and thrived under pressure (and water).

Of course, the world of James Bond didn't stop at Rolex. As the years passed, other watch brands, such as Omega, TAG Heuer, and Seiko, also had their moment in the Bond spotlight. In fact, the Omega Seamaster 300M has been 007's go-to watch in recent films, starting with "GoldenEye" (1995).

However, the Rolex Submariner remains one of the most iconic watches in film history, thanks to its early association with the James Bond franchise and its unforgettable impression on audiences. And let's be honest, who wouldn't want to channel their inner Sean Connery while sporting this timeless masterpiece?

So, there you have it – a love letter to the Rolex Submariner Ref. 6538, the watch that turned heads and stopped hearts in the world of James Bond. If you're on the hunt for a stylish timepiece with a story to tell, look no further than this classic that has truly stood the test of time (and espionage).

We hope this list of excellent movie watches gives you some inspiration on how to incorporate wristwear into your fashion or provides movie buffs with some extra trivia. If you’re interested in finding out more about how timepieces can make you a sharper dresser, we’ve got plenty of guides to help you find the watch that’s right for you.