Who wore what? Here's what the watches worn at the Met Gala 2024 say about modern fashion.
Look. If you're rich and famous enough to attend the Met Gala, you need a great watch. It's an unwritten rule - even part of the dress code!
You're mingling with A-list stars like Kim Kardashian, Kylie Minogue, Rita Ora, and Ariana Grande. To fit in, you need a standout, finely tuned wrist instrument that turns heads.
According to Rihanna (no, she wasn’t at the ceremony!), some celebrities truly “shone bright like a diamond.” The outfit-to-watch ratio was spot on, with some watches even adorned with diamonds. Others made not-so-great choices, but we delved further.
Judging by some ensembles from last week's event, the term “shine” might be a misnomer. Some outfits were stunning, while others flopped like a lead balloon. The same can be said for the watches they wore.
Nevertheless, we took the rough with the smooth, and most attendees clearly aimed to impress.
Before we get into it, let me say this. This year's Met Gala theme was a bit of a circus.
This event has always allowed A-list stars to get creative with their outfits. We live in an era leaning towards a gender-neutral lifestyle. The lines between masculinity and femininity are blurring more than ever.
This is certainly evident with the genderless inclusive watches that appeared last week.
The Met Gala Dress Code was...
“Garden of Time.” It matches the exhibition theme: “Sleeping Beauties: Awakening Fashion.” Yep. I'm confused too!
Imagine feminine colors and large, ominous goblet-like flowers. Like those in J.G. Ballard's dystopian tale “The Garden of Time,” which inspired the exhibition. Melancholic flowers and romanticized vines, overgrowth, and vintage botanical plants blend with the theme of breathing new life into old fashion.
Delicate, otherworldly accessories and artifacts that are simply too valuable and old to wear at the exhibition. Instead, specialists revived them with soundscapes, X-rays, and AI technology.
Not long ago, I touched on women wearing men's watches. My theory was that women find it easier to access men's watches than the other way around.
Moreover, it's become more socially acceptable, especially with the recent influx of unisex sizes. After the Met Gala 2024 show, I’m happy to eat crow!
I've never seen so many feminine-style watches on male wrists, and I'm here for it.
Modern society acknowledges that anyone can wear what they want. Some people tend to go a little “crazy” with this concept. They unleash that inner creativity, which is just what the watch industry needs. A catalyst for breaking these norms and creating new ones.
The Met Gala, opening on the first Monday of May, is a prestigious exhibition celebrating fashionistas and their artistic achievements. Held at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, it gathered a star-studded guest list.
Among them was Ariana Grande, who also performed that evening. Also in attendance were TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, as well as co-chairs Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, and Jennifer Lopez.
Seriously, how much?
The Met Gala isn't just “buy a ticket and go to the show.” You need an invite to get into the glittering show. Even with an invite, don't think you'll get in for free!
An invitation is a sign that Vogue director Anna Wintour has chosen you and recognizes your creative talents.
It's an expensive event. Celebrities pay $75,000 for a ticket for the evening, or they might go all out and book a ten-seat table for $350,000. Indeed, it's not a cheap night!
Couturiers and stylists worldwide pay close attention to each glamorous guest's outfit choice. But for us watch enthusiasts, it's hard to focus on anything other than what's on their wrist!
Met Gala 2024 Watches
Get ready to see lots of diamonds, lots of color, lots of feminine styles, and lots of IWC!
Thor Wields the Eagle
The Marvel hero wielding a hammer and controlling the weather doesn't have modern sports watches, but Chris Hemsworth does. The actor, known for his excellent taste in luxury watches, wore an Alpine Eagle with a cream Tom Ford suit to the event.
The watch was perfect for the occasion, reflecting the glamorous, indulgent dress code of the evening. The watch looked appropriate, showcasing a classic sporty style.
Chopard Alpine Eagle
Being a fan of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, this guy certainly knows how to wear an octagonal bezel. But add some diamonds to the round Alpine Eagle, and it looks equally stylish, despite these watches not being inherently feminine.
The sports watch draws inspiration from the majestic beauty of a bird of prey and the landscapes of the Swiss Alps. The watch case is made of 18-karat yellow gold and pairs perfectly with Hemsworth's suit.
“OMG” - Asher's Jacob & Co. Billionaire Ruby Watch
Wanting to impress at the event, Asher wore a watch from one of the most expensive brands in history on his wrist. And why not?
A $5 million watch, no less, from Jacob & Co. The Ruby Billionaire III watch combines materials from sapphire glass, 18-karat white gold, and precious ruby stones.
Adorned in rich pink precious stones, the “OMG” singer fully embraces his feminine side. He aligns with the garden-inspired event dress code. The watch, loud and quite ostentatious, is impossible to miss thanks to the integrated bracelet adorned with even more ruby stones.
Game, Set, Watch - Audemars Piguet
Serena Williams is a longtime ambassador for Audemars Piguet (and yes, she played tennis in a pair!). In the Royal Oak Self-Winding Tourbillon Extra Thin watch, she shone at this year's Met Gala. The watch is unisex in style, measuring 37mm, making it a great option for men with smaller wrists.
The skeleton dial reveals the automatic mechanism inside the 18-karat white gold case, which AP calls “sand gold.”
Do you have a spare $270,000 for a watch? If so, this watch is what you need if you're looking for something that bridges the gap between “dressy” and “sporty.”
Ben Simmons Paints His Watch in Rainbow Colors
The watch Ben Simmons wore to the Met Gala 2024 is indeed a men's watch, despite its feminine aesthetic. The rainbow baguettes encircling the Patek Philippe Nautilus Rainbow dial create an especially vibrant bezel.
This watch also comes with a rainbow baguette bracelet, but Simmons opted for an attractive red leather strap. It pairs perfectly with the white dial. Pink gold Arabic numerals accompany the 12 rainbow baguette stones.
These are feminine men's watches that Simmons managed to style excellently. However, don't ask me what the big dial on the portfolio was for!
Morgan Spector Loves IWC Portugieser
Next was Morgan Spector, who dazzled in red. At the Met Gala, you often see people going overboard, and this certainly applies to his outfit. The guy simply loves attention to detail and excellent tailoring - two things this Willy Chavarria suit provides.
The red silk faille jacket with a narrow waistline and high shoulders. The jacket is adorned with poppies as a nod to the Garden of Time. However, the actor's watch is significantly more restrained, perfectly balancing his look.
The IWC Portugieser is an absolute classic. They feature a movement providing a 7-day power reserve. The remaining energy of the mechanical engine inside the watch is displayed on a bicompax dial.
It's hard to say whether Spector wore the silver dial version or the “Dune” version. Either way, the elegant Portugieser is an excellent choice for a formal event.
Beyond the Blue Horizon - Kieran Culkin's Dreamy Portugieser
Kieran Culkin chose the IWC Portugieser Horizon Blue model - a new shade recently released by the watch company. Despite the watch only appearing last month, the “Succession” actor has already perfected it, wearing a cream floral-patterned suit.
The Automatic 40 watch features a small seconds subdial, feuille-shaped hands, and a classic round case. The mechanism, equipped with an 18-karat gold rotor and a Pellaton winding mechanism, has a sapphire exhibition window.
Eternal Elegance - IWC Perpetual Calendar by Colman Domingo
Colman Domingo is also fond of IWC watches. The actor, playwright, and director dazzled with his Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 44. The watch is made of the brand's signature 18-karat Armor Gold.
The IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar watch features a power reserve indicator, day, date, month, year, and perpetual moon phase display. It's an eternal companion that pairs beautifully with Domingo's cream and black Willy Chavarria suit. Wearing it in tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, Domingo complemented his outfit with a bouquet of beautiful lilies.
Steven Yeun in Clash with Cartier
“Beef” star Steven Yeun wore the women's Cartier Clash (Un)Limited watch. The fully articulated bracelet, adorned with rotating beads of yellow and purple gold, is a pure symbol of elegance. But whether it should be on Yeun's wrist is an open question.
The stunning Cartier women's watch features a sunburst silver dial adorned with crisp black Roman numerals at the “12” and “6 o'clock” positions. They are complemented by pearl hour markers and sword-shaped hands.
Yeun's Thom Brown floral brocade suit looks dressy and masculine. Unfortunately, it doesn't fully suit a feminine image. These feminine watches are something else, but they're still stunning.
Brooklyn Beckham in Piaget Polo 79
Of course, it's not Piaget's fault. But I just can't look at the Piaget Polo 79 and not think of the Gucci 25H. The latter is a more affordable alternative to the Piaget watch.
Their design reflects Gucci's transition to more sophisticated watches a few years ago. However, for an event like the Met Gala, these watches aren't suitable.
The Piguet Polo 79 watches look great on young Brooklyn Beckham's wrist. If, of course, you can get the very similar 25H from Gucci out of your head.
Ed Sheeran and Royal Oak
Sounds like a romance: Ed Sheeran and Royal Oak. However, this lovely duo truly tells a love story. The successful British singer has a soft spot for Audemars Piguet and has long been an avid collector of luxury watches.
He shares this watch passion with his music buddy John Mayer, who has his own Royal Oak watch made to Mayer's specifications. It is this 18-karat white gold watch you see on Ed at this year's Met Gala. The watch features a beautiful blue dial inspired by the lunar sky, with calendars located on four sub-dials.
If you ask Ed, I'm sure he'll tell you these watches are worth the $200,000 he paid for them. According to the singer himself, collecting watches isn't a “bad habit.” But they seem to be his “guilty” pleasure in life.
Michael Shannon Loves VC
The one who got the assignment right is Michael Shannon. He adorned his wrist with a Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921 watch - a true classic.
I love this design and the unconventional orientation of the hour markers. The “12 o'clock” hour marker is positioned at the “1 o'clock” position, giving the entire dial an appealing tilt.
The model is great for conversations, and it looks perfectly at home on Shannon's wrist. Combined with a brown leather strap, you're unlikely to find a more understated watch for the American actor.
Finding
This year's Met Gala 2024 dress code was the “Garden of Time.” So it's only natural that the star-studded cast went to town to showcase true icons. Some outfits were incredibly classic and matched the evening's theme, while others were wild and downright ridiculous. God loves triers.
Regardless of what we like and dislike, the Met Gala 2024 watches were worth the wait.
Whether the stars profited by wearing their watches or not, one thing is for sure. The centuries-old tradition of watch-wearing is here to stay. And may it remain so.
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