We wear watches for two reasons: style and stories. Exploring wristwatches seen in films is a natural step to understanding their cultural significance.
Interest in watches in cinema has been around for a long time. Especially for men, it's a kind of answer to women's fashion on screen.
Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of striking moments related to clothing in movies, such as Bruce Wayne's transformation into Batman. Also famous is James Bond's Glen check suit, which became a symbol even before appearing on the character. (It was a more restrained transformation of Bond from civilian to hero.)
But let's be honest. Little girls have experienced their transformation into Disney's Cinderella. Films like "Sex and the City" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" tell half their story through clothes. Men rarely get such grand metamorphoses.
Nonetheless, we have watches. And they've always been with us.
It's not uncommon for prop specialists to use fake watch models. This proves how important it is to have precisely this accessory. Exactly this model.
Recently, I turned to a friend who is well-versed in both cinema and watches. Besides being able to name watch models from films offhand, I realized one important thing.
There are several categories of watches in cinema. There is the recognizable classic - the "mountain range" of cinematic watches. There are models with a devoted fan base, sometimes intersecting with deep, obscure specimens.
And, as with lost media, there are mysterious watches - models with no references, or too distant in the frame to discern details.
Today I want to touch on all these categories. I won't strictly classify them, as the boundaries are blurred. This will give you the opportunity to draw conclusions on your own - a kind of interactive approach.
Tissot Watches of Jimmy Stewart from "Rear Window"
I'll start with a choice I would call "obvious to some." Perhaps today it is "obvious to many," but it's clearly not Bond's Submariner.
I spent many hours searching for information about these classic watches with elegant forms. Today, the mystery is supposedly solved. Jimmy Stewart's Tissot watches, previously without a model indication, are the Tissot 6440-3.
These watches frequently appear in Hitchcock's thriller. They are visible when Stewart's character, Jeff Jeffries, gets a massage in close-up. They also flash when Jeffries is hanging from a windowsill. Don't worry, there won't be any spoilers.
Perhaps my fascination is linked to the fact that one mystery begets another. Forum visitors claimed they "searched for these watches for years" or "thought it was a film exclusive."
Now that the mystery is unveiled, has it become less interesting? In my opinion, no. I love the vintage Tissot logo.
Rolex Submariner 6538 of James Bond in "Dr. No"
Why did I name the previous watch by the actor's name and this one by the character's? I think the public named them that way. But, of course, everyone knows the original James Bond watch was worn by Sir Sean Connery.
Much has been said about the Submariner watch. Here are a few of my favorite facts:
- Bond breaks fashion rules by pairing a sports watch with a tuxedo. It's a sort of wink to the aristocracy, which allows family heirlooms. Prince William, for example, wears an Omega Seamaster gifted by Princess Diana.
- The Submariner is a watch that spawned thousands of imitations. Bond's popularity clearly contributed to this.
- The choice of diver's watch is due to Bond being a Navy commander.
TAG Heuer Monaco 1133B of Steve McQueen in "Le Mans"
These watches are important for two reasons. First, they have a unique design, especially noticeable when McQueen wore them in the 1971 film "Le Mans." Second, TAG Heuer attaches special importance to them.
The company has reissued the model several times: in 1998, 2003, and 2015. All these releases are officially called "Le Mans Watches." Nobody minds - many men want to be like Steve McQueen.
The film showcases the watch well when McQueen's character, Michael Delaney, drives a Porsche 917K. Motorsports and watches are the perfect combination, like cigars and whiskey.
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch in "Apollo 13"
Art imitates life, and life imitates art. The story of the American hero "Apollo 13" is real.
The Speedmaster was already associated with space and the first watch on the Moon. Logically, Tom Hanks wears these watches in the film.
By the time the film was released in 1995, the Speedmaster was already an icon.
The success of "Apollo 13" revived the model's popularity - a classic example of life imitating art.
James Ragan led the testing of moon watches in the 60s. He called the Speedmaster "an important backup instrument." "Apollo 13" proved this in practice.
Rolex GMT-Master II from "Marathon Man"
The Rolex GMT-Master Reference 1675 with a "Pepsi" bezel, worn by Dustin Hoffman in the thriller "Marathon Man," is a key accessory.
Hoffman plays a graduate student and runner, Babe Levy, who is kidnapped. He wears a Rolex with water resistance up to 100 meters.
In the 1976 film, the hero escapes wearing only pants and a watch to pay for a taxi and make a call from a payphone - before the era of mobile phones and Apple Pay.
Photos of Hoffman with these watches appear in other films and in life. Perhaps it was his personal watch.
Seiko of Captain Willard from "Apocalypse Now"
In "Apocalypse Now," both watch models are significant. Marlon Brando wears his GMT-Master 1675 without a bezel.
His character, Colonel Kurtz, is one of the most vivid images of madness in cinema.
But the watch of Captain Willard, played by Martin Sheen, received its name.
Willard wears a Seiko 6105 with a black bezel and dial on a rubber strap. The model has a cushion-shaped case characteristic of Seiko.
This is justified, as many soldiers in Vietnam actually wore these watches. Seiko later released a reissue, the Turtle Captain Willard in the Prospex series. The asymmetrical case protects the crown from being snagged in the jungle.
Rolex of Patrick Bateman from "American Psycho"
In the film "American Psycho," the character Patrick Bateman wears a two-tone Rolex Datejust. Although Rolex prohibited actors from saying the brand name aloud and wearing the watches in dark scenes.
Omega Seamaster 2541.8 from "GoldenEye"
Some consider the Omega Seamaster "The Other Bond Watch." Without capital letters - just "the other Bond watch."
The classic model with a wave-patterned dial, especially the quartz 2541.8 worn by Pierce Brosnan in the 1995 film "GoldenEye," is exactly this watch.
This was the start of the "Great Transition to Seamaster" in 1995.
A favorite moment - in "Casino Royale," when Vesper Lynd notices Bond's watch and asks if it's a Rolex. He corrects her - it's an Omega. An example of successful product placement and a symbolic passing of the torch.
By the way, this Omega model was one of my first watches.
Doxa Sub 600t Sharkhunter from "Three Days of the Condor"
In the classic film "Three Days of the Condor," Robert Redford plays a CIA employee targeted by assassins.
Doxa Sub 600t Sharkhunter - stylish watches with impressive water resistance.
They seem to embody Redford's image: orange and brown tones, a curved case, and a bund strap - everything perfectly suits the hero of the "golden 70s."
Rumor has it these watches were from Redford's personal collection.
Interesting fact: Redford's character became the aesthetic prototype for Brad Pitt's character with a bund strap in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."
Brad Pitt's Watch in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood"
The most interesting thing about Brad Pitt's watch in this meta-film is its anachronism. Tarantino is known for his attention to detail.
The character Cliff Booth wears a Citizen Challenge Timer 8110, known as the Bullhead Challenge Timer, on a leather bund strap.
The action takes place in 1969, but the Bullhead appeared in 1972.
It seems Tarantino prioritized the style of the watch over chronology. And it worked.
Calculator Watches from "Back to the Future"
Ask people which watches are associated with "Back to the Future."
Most will answer - Casio CA-53W. In reality, in the first film, Marty McFly had Casio CA-50 without backlight, and in the sequels - CA-53W. Both variants are correct.
Time travel movies ensure Marty's watches are destined to become iconic.
Today, gadgets, geek culture, and "dad's" things are perceived as cool and even inspiring. These watches are a great example.
Vostok Zissou from "The Life Aquatic"
"The Life Aquatic" is a great film for watch enthusiasts. Ned wears a GMT Master, and Klaus - blue Maritime Forces Vostok.
But today, the focus is on the Vostok Amphibia of Bill Murray's character, Steve Zissou.
For watch connoisseurs, this accessory is as iconic as the character's red cap.
As an underfunded oceanographer, Zissou perfectly fits Wes Anderson's style.
Double Casio F-100 from "Alien"
In Ridley Scott's first "Alien" film, the main character Ripley wears double Casio F-100s with a red (or orange) frame.
Like Bond's watches with sci-fi functions, double Casio F-100s are a delightful example of pseudo-science fiction.
Patek Philippe of Ryan Gosling in "Drive"
In "Drive," Gosling wears vintage Patek Philippe. In reality, these are "Franken-watches" created by prop makers, as real ones wouldn't withstand the stunts.
Hamilton "Murph" from "Interstellar"
Hamilton "Murph" watches became one of the main characters in "Interstellar." Hamilton even released a public version of the model.
Watching Watches in Movies
The truth is, we've long been watching watches in films.
Wrist radios of Dick Tracy were a symbol for kids of the 40s. Marty McFly - an icon of the 80s. In the 90s, kids watched the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers teleport using wrist communicators.
Watches in movies have always been an important part of men's and children's perception.