Since the birth of the cinema in the 1920s, watches have played almost as an integral part on the silver screen as the famous actors who wear them.
The timepiece you wear says a lot about you, which is why it is the go-to accessory for film producers trying to portray certain qualities in their actors. Luxury watches represent a sense of ambition and success, whereas, classic pieces convey professional and sophisticated personalities.
Regardless of the style, if you cast your mind back to the ultra-cool stars of the screen, they will most definitely be sporting some enviable wrist candy. What would Bond be without an overly extravagant watch to flash in the faces of his enemies? The watch is equally as important to the storyline as the intricate set and designer costumes.
At William May, we can appreciate a good film as much as a beautiful watch. Here are our top 5 watch cameos over the years.
James Bond
Ian Fleming, writer of the Bond series, knew exactly how to make the world’s greatest secret agent even more suave; he gave him a Rolex.
The Rolex Submariner Oyster Perpetual watch initially appeared on our screens in the 1962 film Dr. No, featuring a classic striped Nato strap on a jet black dial, adorned with a simple chrome bezel. This truly is a sophisticated and functional watch, fit for a world-class secret agent.
Pulp Fiction
The Lancet WW1 trench watch stole the screen from Bruce Willis when it made its appearance in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction.
Arguably one of the most famous watch appearances on screen, the strapless Lancet’s classically-polished gold face debuted during an intense scene where Butch (Bruce Willis) recollected how his father’s comrade (Christopher Walken) described the story of his father’s death, and how the promise of returning the family wristwatch to Butch had kept him alive during the war.
If anything, this scene reaffirms that you should never underestimate the power of a vintage watch!
Batman
Jaeger-LeCoultre has a powerful relationship with the Batman.
Formed when the first Reverso Jaeger-LeCoultre was worn by the original Batman, Val Kilmer, later returning to the wrist of Christian Bale in The Dark Knight. In the film, the timepiece had been altered to project the face of whomever Batman was speaking to, which unfortunately is not a real option.
The actual watch featured a classic dial with the reversible option. For his final performance, Batman’s choice was the special edition Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Tribute to 1931, completed with a Batman symbol and a reversible screen option to avoid any scratches.
Blood Diamond
In the film, Leonardo DiCaprio can be clearly shown wearing a Breitling Chrono Avenger watch. The timepiece features a black dial complete with a shock and water-resistant solid titanium 44mm case, set upon a no-fuss brown calf leather strap.
The Departed
The Departed depicts Agent Colin (Matt Damon) wearing an iconic Tag Heuer silver link timepiece.
Crafted from a block of solid steel, the model features highly complex geometry featuring a scratch-resistant curved dial. Hand-fitted markers make the watch a sophisticated symbol of success.
If you ‘Like’ William May’s Facebook page, you’ll know that we’ve been asking our followers to name watches from famous movie scenes. Will you put your knowledge of the silver screen and luxury timepieces to the test?
