While stylists may dress celebrities in fad trends for internet virality, the man’s choice of watch alludes to their long-term tastes. A sportier, more endurant style may suggest a penchant for thrill-seeking pastimes, while refined vintage designs can suggest an interest in horological history.
A lot can be said about a man’s watch, and so, Elite Traveler has researched what some of the planet’s most popular stars are wearing. Maybe it’ll inspire you to add to your own collection, too.
George Clooney
As a longstanding ambassador for Omega, George Clooney has had a rotation of timepieces from the Swiss watchmaker over the years. There was the Speedmaster Moonwatch in 18k gold, an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M (a luxurious take on a dive watch), and the ever classic Seamaster Aqua Terra.
Still, the Omega De Ville Hour Vision is one particular watch he always returns to, donning it on red carpets, press junkets, and even for his role in Up In The Air. He wears the 2007 41mm time and date chronometer, easily identifiable by its striking grooved rhodium-plated hour track on its dial.
Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt is a watch enthusiast, with a collection that boasts vintage timepieces like the Vacheron Constantin 222 and the Patek Philippe 3800/1J. But he can thank David Fincher’s 2025 motor racing hit F1 for the inception of one of his favourites: the limited edition IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40.
With IWC sponsoring the film, Pitt and Fincher had the opportunity to work with the watchmakers on creating a style for the actor’s character, Sonny Hayes. They partnered with New York-based modifer Cloister Watches (a brand that Finch has worked with for his own collection) to customize it according to Pitt’s desires. While those mods were in keeping with Hayes’ storyline, Pitt was spotted wearing it at the Hungarian Grand Prix nearly a year before the film’s release.
Tom Cruise
Whether the Top Gun actor is dressing for the red carpet or off-duty escapades, he’s known for wearing understated ensembles. But when it comes to his watch collection, it’s quite the opposite. Cruise has a large collection of timepieces that he picks for particular occasions. For example, he whipped out a Cartier Santos for the Top Gun: Maverick premiere in Seoul because of its historical ties with aviation.
Still, for moments when he’s not strutting the red carpet, there will often be a Rolex on Cruise’s wrist. He’s worn the Rolex Sky-Dweller 326934 while dining at The Dorchester in London, and a platinum dial Rolex Day-Date 40 at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Whilst filming Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One, he was spotted in Teesside airport wearing a Rolex Daytona ‘Panda’, cementing him as a serious watch collector.
Leonardo DiCaprio
As you’ll often see Leonardo DiCaprio in nothing more elaborate than a baseball cap and plain t-shirt, the Oscar-winning actor embellishes his outfits with his watches.
Off-screen, DiCaprio has worn a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Racing” from the early 2000s, as well as a rare Patek Philippe Nautilus made in collaboration with Tiffany courtside at LA Lakers games. While on the red carpet, he’s whipped out a 70th anniversary edition of a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Septantième.
As well as being an ambassador for TAG Heuer, he wore their 1000 Professional style on a gold-played jubilee bracelet and an 18k gold TAG Heuer 2000 WN5141 during The Wolf of Wall Street. In Don’t Look Up, he wore a less flashy timepiece: a Cartier Tank.
Daniel Craig
Fans of James Bond will likely have spotted the Omega timepieces that the British actor wore throughout his tenure, and as his ambassadorship extends to his life outside of espionage, his collection is filled with them.
Firstly, there’s the Speedmasters. He wore a 40mm red-gold style to Loewe’s spring/summer 2025 show, a Moonwatch to the Tudum premiere, and even the brand’s notoriously successful collaboration with Swatch – specifically the MoonSwatch Mission to Neptune – to the 2023 National Board of Review Gala. In the James Bond films, Craig has worn the Planet Ocean, Diver 300m, Seamaster Professional, and the Aqua Terra.
But over the years, Craig has been spotted with a few Rolexes on his wrist, including a Rolex GMT-Master ‘Pepsi’. The blue and red bezel is what inspired collectors to identify it as the ‘Pepsi’, which was produced between 1959 and 1980, and was the predecessor to the GMT-Master II.
Barack Obama
You could characterize the former US president’s watch collection in the same way as his influence: timeless, but impactful. During and after his time in the White House, Obama has worn a mix of watches that show he has taste without being ostentatious. In the last few years, he’s been wearing a 39mm Rolex Cellini with a white-gold frame, white dial with contrasting indices and knurled edge bezel – a fuss-free watch that exudes elegance and class.
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But arguably his most special would be the timepiece he received on his 46th birthday from the Secret Service agents tasked with protecting him. The Jorg Gray chronograph is only available from the Secret Service employee’s store, and was made with a Japanese Miyota Caliber OS-20 movement protected by a stainless steel case. Obama’s endorsement made it a bestseller, helped by its humble $210 price tag.