Some of the best watch spotting in the world can be done at a Formula 1 paddock, where brands outfit drivers with some of the coolest and most cutting-edge timepieces on the planet. So, naturally, the red carpet for Joseph Kosinski’s F1 movie starring Brad Pitt was a horological goldmine. And while the film’s watch partner IWC was perhaps the brand best represented, plenty of other marques had their place in the sun.
While many might’ve expected to see Brad Pitt rocking the limited-edition Ingenieur he teased earlier in the year, the veteran actor dove much deeper into his personal archive, rocking a vintage Patek Philippe ref. 2526. Dating to the 1950s, this remarkable watch features both an automatic movement and a white enamel dial, marking it as extra special in the eyes of collectors. Because while other variants were made with metal or other dials, the Stern Frères-produced enamel variants are particularly valuable. (Roughly 3,000 pieces were made across all case medals over a period of seven years but only 600 or so are known.)
James Devaney
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The 2526’s other notable attribute is its automatic cal. 12-600AT movement. This, when paired with the relatively large 36-mm yellow gold case and enamel dial, makes it an expensive proposition. Add in the yellow gold bracelet that Pitt’s wearing it on—which doesn’t appear to be OEM—and you have yourself a six-figure watch. But Pitt’s Ur-Calatrava wasn’t the only fun timepiece on show: John Mayer showed up in a veritable complicated masterpiece, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Black Ceramic Openworked, while Hans Zimmer, not be outdone, rocked an IWC Portugieser Eternal Calendar.
Damson IRRIS’S IWC ingency automatic 40 (ref. IW328702
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Courtesy of IWC
British actor Damson Idris showed up looking dapper in a three-piece, black pinstripe number paired with the a new IWC Ingenieur Automatic, a precious metal take on the brand’s luxury sports watch. The Ingenieur is a relatively new addition to IWC’s catalog but it’s already proving itself to be a powerhouse. The model is a revival of a watch from the ‘70s designed by none other than Gerald Genta, the man who created Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak and Patek Philippe’s Nautilus. This is one of the best versions of the modern Ingenieur thanks to its full-gold construction. Measuring 40 mm in diameter and machined from a hunk of 18K 5N gold, it features a beautiful black dial in the collection’s “grid” pattern overlaid with solid gold indices and a matching handset. Paired to a matching 5N gold bracelet and powered by the brand’s automatic cal. 32111 movement with a 120-hour power reserve, it looked perfectly natural on Idris’s wrist.
George Russell’s IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 (Ref. IW328908)
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Courtesy of IWC
This is the one watch we knew would be on the F1 red carpet. Brad Pitt first teased this special edition of the Ingenieur as part of his wardrobe for the movie. Then, in April, IWC finally released a version to the public. At Monday’s premiere, the watch made its way from Sonny Hayes (Pitt’s character) to real-life Formula 1 driver and Mercedes team member George Russell.
Lando Norris’s Richard Mille RM 72-01 in white ceramic
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One of the hottest racers on the grid this year, team McLaren’s Lando Norris brought a fitting timepiece. Richard Mille makes timepieces that look as if they’re built for racing in the future, which makes them a mainstay on the F1 circuit. Norris’s 72-01 is particularly cool. The watch resembles a supercar with its white ceramic construction and dial display that evokes a dashboard. The watch is a perfect fit whether Norris is on the racetrack or the red carpet.
John Mayer’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Black Ceramic Openworked
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It’s not his co-designed QP, and it’s not a neo-vintage ref. 25829ST, but it’s a good one: John Mayer’s Royal Oak combines Gérald Genta’s 1972 luxury sports watch design with a perpetual calendar and houses it in advanced ceramic. This a true watch-guy grail. Measuring 41-mm wide by just 9.9-mm tall, it exemplifies AP’s expertise in all things horological: materials, complications, design, aesthetics, and regard for history. Paired to a matching, integrated black ceramic bracelet and powered by an openworked, in-house movement—which is visible via the crystal—it’s one of the most compelling Royal Oaks in the brand’s current catalog.
Pierre Gasly’s H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Tourbillon Skeleton
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French F1 driver and Alpine team member Pierre Gasly likewise appeared in the F1 film and showed up in NYC with an extra-cool watch. The Moser & Cie. Streamliner Tourbillon Skeleton might still be an under-the-radar model as far as the general public is concerned, but for deep watch nerds, it’s an ultra-cool model from a beloved brand boasting spectacular design. In stainless steel with a matching integrated bracelet, it features a cushion-shaped case and a fully skeletonized, automatic movement with a visible one-minute flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock. With 72 hours of power reserve and 120m of water resistance, it ain’t just for show, either. (Though maybe don’t rock one while you rip down a straightaway at 200 mph in your A523.)
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