Red carpet looks are always a popular topic at SHARP HQ, but at this year’s Venice Film Festival, the luxury watch scene has stepped into the spotlight. Paired with varying degrees of fine tailoring, the year’s attendees (and their respective stylists) have been especially mindful when it comes to finding the right timepiece for their red carpet appearances. This was not a year for disproportionate, oversized, blinged-out wristwear; the vibe proved to be quite polished and understated, just the way we like it. Though the festival doesn’t wrap until the coming weekend, here are the watches that stood out to us so far.
Oscar Isaac — Cartier Tank Must
We never tire of Oscar Isaac’s “casual cool”, whether it’s his gender-bending Met Gala skirt from Loewe from a few years ago, or this suited-but-casual ensemble from Celine on the red carpet for Frankenstein. Tying it all together is an elegant Tank Must de Cartier with a black lacquer dial and stainless steel case. Subtle, sleek, simple. It’s an easy win.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson — Omega Constellation 41mm
It’s almost as if Isaac and ATJ coordinated their respective looks, and though the watch choices were quite different they both bring that punchy bit of black to contrast against their white tuxedo jackets. For Taylor-Johnson, this sun-brushed black dial Omega Constellation reference is a part of the brand’s recent refresh of the collection that tips a hat to ’80s watch design. They aren’t frequently spotted in the wild, but it looks fantastic.
Idris Elba — Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
As Idris Elba arrived on the red carpet for the world premiere of A House of Dynamite, we were yet again reminded of his unwavering sense of style. From streetwear to fashion-forward tailoring, Elba is not one to disappoint, though the best detail of this whole look is his watch choice — hear us out. With such an unorthodox jacket cut, you would expect his watch selection to be equally bold and forward thinking, but instead Elba opts for the classic of all classics: an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, which seems to be the most recent 41mm reference in white gold.
Paul Dano — Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Chronograph
We’ve seen it done before, but there’s no denying that a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso looks absolutely stunning when paired with a tuxedo. Not to say that the iconic wristwatch design is out of place in less formal setting, but when dressed up the way Paul Dano approached the red carpet for The Wizard Of The Kremlin, it just clicks. Bonus points for opting for the new chronograph variant in rose gold.
Dwayne Johnson — Chopard Alpine Eagle 41
This one was a tricky one to track down, believe it or not. Dwayne Johnson was heavily photographed on the red carpet at the premiere of The Smashing Machine, yet due to a longer cuff, his wristwatch of choice very rarely came into frame. With a tease here and there we went digging, eventually uncovering that he’d opted for the mighty Chopard Alpine Eagle 41 in rose gold. Despite being a larger reference, the piece feels almost conservative in size when resting on Johnson’s hulking wrist.
Teo Yoo — Bulgari Octo Finissimo Yellow Gold
Teo Yoo has been a mainstay of South Korean film and TV for years, and after his beakthrough appearance in the critically acclaimed Past Lives, he’s continued to land more international opportunities including The Voice Of Hind Rajab, which premiered in Venice on September 3rd. Yoo’s watch selection immediately caught our eye; yellow gold has been making a comeback, and this Bulgari Octo Finissimo in yellow gold on bracelet is an absolute statement piece that somehow doesn’t feel like “too much” when paired with a classic tuxedo. It just works.
Feature image courtesy of Getty Images, Pascal Le Segretain / Staff.
