Celebrity watches: who wears what in 2026
From courtside to red carpets, the watches celebrities choose say as much about them as their careers do. Here is a comprehensive look at 20 notable watch-wearing celebrities, what they wear, and why their choices matter to the broader market.
Athletes
LeBron James -- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore
LeBron has been an Audemars Piguet ambassador since 2011 and wears various Royal Oak Offshore models, often in 18K rose gold with a diamond-set bezel. His collection reportedly includes the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph (ref. 26470OR, approximately $45,000-$65,000 retail) and custom diamond-set pieces valued well over $300,000. The partnership makes strategic sense -- AP's octagonal bezel and "luxury sports" positioning mirrors LeBron's own brand of accessible dominance.
Rafael Nadal -- Richard Mille RM 27-04
The most famous athlete-watch partnership in history. Nadal has worn Richard Mille on court since 2010, enduring the violent shocks of professional tennis. The RM 27-04 tourbillon weighs just 30 grams (including the strap), uses a carbon TPT case, and is rated to withstand 12,000 g-forces. Retail price: approximately $1,050,000. Richard Mille produced this watch specifically for Nadal, and fewer than 50 pieces exist. The partnership single-handedly proved that ultra-high-end watches could survive elite sports.
Lewis Hamilton -- IWC Big Pilot & Schaffhausen
Hamilton has been an IWC brand ambassador since 2013. He frequently wears the Big Pilot's Watch in ceramic or titanium (ref. IW329303, approximately $14,000) and various limited editions from the Pilot's Watch collection. IWC has created several Lewis Hamilton special editions featuring blacked-out cases and his signature purple accents. Off the track, Hamilton has also been spotted wearing Patek Philippe and custom pieces.
Cristiano Ronaldo -- Franck Muller, Rolex, Jacob & Co.
Ronaldo's collection is arguably the most expensive of any athlete, estimated at over $10 million. His standout pieces include a Franck Muller Cintrée Curvex Tourbillon with a diamond-encrusted case (approximately $1.5 million), a Rolex GMT-Master II "Ice" fully paved with diamonds ($500,000+), and a Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon ($1.5 million). He gravitates toward flashy, diamond-heavy pieces that match his persona.
Serena Williams -- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
Serena became an Audemars Piguet ambassador in 2014, and wears the Royal Oak Quartz in 33mm rose gold with a diamond bezel (ref. 67651OR, approximately $45,000). She has also been seen with the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph. Her partnership with AP helped the brand expand its visibility in the women's luxury watch market significantly.
Actors
Brad Pitt -- Breitling
Pitt became the face of Breitling's Cinema Squad campaign alongside Adam Driver and Bradley Cooper. He wears the Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 (approximately $8,900) and has been photographed with various Navitimer models. Off-duty, Pitt also owns vintage Patek Philippe pieces, including a Ref. 5004 Split-Seconds Chronograph Perpetual Calendar valued at over $200,000. His Breitling partnership helped reposition the brand toward understated elegance.
Ryan Gosling -- TAG Heuer Carrera
Gosling became a TAG Heuer ambassador in 2023, debuting with the Carrera Chronograph in the "Barbie" press tour. He wears the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph (ref. CBS2210, approximately $6,150) and the Carrera Date in 39mm. The partnership aligns with TAG Heuer's push toward a younger, style-conscious audience. Gosling has also been photographed wearing a vintage Rolex Air-King and an Omega Speedmaster.
John Mayer -- Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet
John Mayer is widely considered one of the most knowledgeable celebrity watch collectors alive. His collection spans vintage and modern, with standout pieces including a Patek Philippe 5711/1A Nautilus, a Rolex Daytona "Paul Newman" ref. 6239, an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak "Jumbo" ref. 15202, and numerous vintage Rolex sports models. He regularly discusses watches on Hodinkee's "Talking Watches" series and his personal collection is estimated at several million dollars.
Jason Statham -- Panerai Luminor
Statham is a well-known Panerai enthusiast, frequently wearing the Luminor Marina (PAM01312, approximately $8,300) and the Luminor Submersible. His affinity for Panerai predates any formal partnership -- the brand's Italian military heritage and 44mm+ case sizes suit his action-star persona. Panerai's oversized, no-nonsense design language has made it a favorite among physically imposing celebrities.
Jennifer Aniston -- Rolex Day-Date
Aniston has been photographed wearing a Rolex Day-Date 36mm in yellow gold (ref. 128238, approximately $37,000) and the Rolex Datejust. She is not a brand ambassador -- her Rolex choices are personal, which arguably makes them more influential. The Day-Date (known as "The President") is a classic power statement that transcends gender, and Aniston has helped normalize women wearing traditionally masculine watch references.
Musicians
Jay-Z -- Patek Philippe, Richard Mille, Hublot
Jay-Z's collection reflects his evolution from hustler to mogul. His known pieces include a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 in rose gold (approximately $120,000 retail, $250,000+ secondary market), a Richard Mille RM 011 (approximately $200,000), and a Hublot Big Bang. He was an early Hublot ambassador but has since gravitated toward Patek Philippe and understated luxury. His reference to "Audemars that's losing time" in a song reportedly caused AP some consternation.
Ed Sheeran -- Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille
Sheeran has emerged as one of music's most serious watch collectors. His standout pieces include a Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar (ref. 5740/1G, approximately $140,000 retail), an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon, and multiple Richard Mille models worn on stage. He has spoken publicly about his love of watchmaking and his collection reportedly exceeds $5 million in value. His understated appearance makes his watch choices all the more striking.
Drake -- Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, Jacob & Co.
Drake's watch collection is one of the most valuable in the music industry. He owns a custom Richard Mille RM 69 Erotic Tourbillon (approximately $750,000), a Jacob & Co. Astronomia Tourbillon ($750,000+), and multiple Patek Philippe references including the ultra-rare Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300G (retail $2.6 million). Drake regularly debuts new pieces on Instagram, and his purchases have measurable impact on secondary market prices for specific references.
Pharrell Williams -- Richard Mille, Audemars Piguet
Pharrell's taste runs toward the avant-garde. He frequently wears the Richard Mille RM 52-05 Pharrell Williams "Astral Skeleton" Tourbillon, a $969,000 piece created in collaboration with the brand. The watch features a hand-painted astronaut motif on the sapphire crystal. He also owns multiple AP Royal Oak Offshore models and a Chanel J12 -- reflecting his role as creative director for Louis Vuitton menswear and his comfort crossing traditional gender boundaries in style.
Business and tech
Tim Cook -- Apple Watch
The Apple CEO wears exactly what you would expect: an Apple Watch. He has been photographed with various generations since the original 2015 launch, typically in aluminum with sport bands. The most expensive Apple Watch Ultra maxes out at $800 -- making Cook's wrist one of the most modestly adorned in the CEO world. It would be strange if he wore anything else, but the statement is powerful: the head of the world's most valuable company choosing a smartwatch over a six-figure mechanical piece.
Bill Gates -- Casio Duro MDV106-1A
Perhaps the most famous "anti-status" watch choice in the world. Bill Gates, with a net worth exceeding $100 billion, regularly wears a Casio Duro MDV106-1A -- a quartz dive watch that retails for approximately $55. The Duro is a genuinely excellent watch for its price (200m water resistance, rotating bezel, clean dial), and Gates' choice has become a symbol of practical frugality. The "Gates effect" helped the Duro achieve cult status among watch enthusiasts as the ultimate value proposition.
Bernard Arnault -- TAG Heuer, Louis Vuitton Tambour
The LVMH chairman (who oversees TAG Heuer, Hublot, Zenith, and Bulgari) is frequently seen wearing TAG Heuer Monaco and Carrera models, as well as the Louis Vuitton Tambour. As head of the largest luxury conglomerate, his watch choices are inherently promotional -- but the TAG Heuer Monaco, famously associated with Steve McQueen, is a genuinely excellent chronograph. Retail for the Monaco Chronograph starts at approximately $6,550.
Royalty and world leaders
Prince William -- Omega Seamaster 300M
The Prince of Wales wears an Omega Seamaster Professional 300M (ref. 2541.80, approximately $2,500-$4,000 on the secondary market) that was given to him by his mother, Princess Diana, in the 1990s. This specific reference -- a blue quartz model from the mid-1990s -- has become iconic precisely because of this royal connection. William continues to wear this watch on nearly every public occasion, and it demonstrates that sentimental value often trumps monetary value in choosing a watch.
King Charles III -- Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Chronograph
King Charles is known for wearing a Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Chronograph -- a relatively obscure choice by royal standards. Parmigiani is an independent Swiss brand founded in 1996, and the Toric Chronograph retails around $30,000. Charles' choice reflects his documented preference for artisan craftsmanship over mass luxury. He has also been photographed wearing a Cartier Tank, following in the footsteps of multiple British royals who have favored Cartier.
Why celebrity watch choices matter
Celebrity watch choices have a measurable impact on the market. When a high-profile figure is seen wearing a specific reference, authorized dealers report spikes in inquiries, and secondary market prices for that reference often increase within days. The "Paul Newman" Rolex Daytona is the most extreme example -- a dial variant that was originally considered undesirable became the most valuable vintage Rolex in existence largely because of its association with the actor.
The ambassador effect
Watch brands spend enormous sums on celebrity ambassadors because the return is proven. Richard Mille's strategy of placing million-dollar watches on the wrists of athletes during competition has been transformative for the brand, turning it from a niche independent into one of the most recognized luxury names in the world. Similarly, Omega's James Bond partnership (running since 1995) has cemented the Seamaster as a cultural icon far beyond the watch world.
However, the most influential celebrity watches are often the ones that are not sponsored. John Mayer buying vintage Rolex references on his own, Bill Gates wearing a $55 Casio, or Prince William keeping his mother's quartz Omega -- these organic choices resonate more deeply because they reflect genuine preference rather than contractual obligation.
Authenticate your celebrity-inspired watch
Thinking about buying a watch inspired by your favorite celebrity? Upload photos to WatchScanning and our AI will verify its authenticity before you commit.
Start ScanningFor high-value purchases, we recommend pairing your AI scan with an in-person inspection by a certified watchmaker for complete peace of mind.