A passion for high-quality timepieces often goes hand in hand with a deeper interest in men’s style, and the desire for one particular model is often sparked by seeing it in a film or on the wrist of an influential figure. Having set your heart on one or more watches, you will soon find that the hunt is almost as exhilarating as the final purchase. In this article, we look at some of the watches seen on the wrists of film stars that have seduced generations of timepiece enthusiasts.

Aliens - Seiko Giugiaro 7A28-7000

One watch that has a distinct style as well as a (relatively) reasonable price is the Seiko Giugiaro SCED035 Ripley, named for Sigourney Weaver’s character in 1986’s sci-fi classic Aliens. The man behind this somewhat futuristic model is none other than Giorgetto Giugiaro, who designed the legendary DeLorean as well as innumerable concepts for Ferrari and Aston Martin. Giugiaro’s design is characterised by an unmistakable combination of sharp angles and bold curves. Taking the 7A26 reference model as his starting point, Giugiaro added a thick rectangular panel on the right side of the watch case, with the push buttons being located at each end, creating a design that feels both minimalist and futurist.

Live and Let Die - Rolex Submariner 5513

Rolex’s Submariner watches are a recurring favourite of Agent 007, even in Ian Fleming’s original books. In the film Live and Let Die from 1973, Roger Moore’s James Bond sports a Rolex 5513 with tritium coated indexes and a black watch face. Moore’s specific model, however, has an unusual complication in the form of a bezel with long, serrated edges which, with the help of a built-in motor at the rear can, at least in the film, cut its way through rope.

Le Mans - Heuer Monaco

If you are looking for a watch that truly stands out, but is still capable of flattering the right wearer, the Heuer Monaco may well be what you seek. This model is sported by Steve McQueen in 1971’s Le Mans, a film about the endurance race of the same name. This was long before TAG bought a controlling stake in the company – there are, of course, numerous editions of the Monaco model with the TAG Heuer logo, but true timepiece connoisseurs often dream of finding a model produced before the fusion of the two marques. If you’d rather take a short cut, TAG Heuer offer a reissue of the original with only the Heuer name adorning its watch face.