Famous Men and Their Watches: What the All-Time Greats Wear — and Why

BY James Brock // 12.22.16

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Harry Winston Opus 14 in white gold, $432,700, at the <a href="http://www.harrywinston.com/en/opus-14-0">Harry Winston</a> boutique, the <a href="https://www.tourbillon.com/">Tourbillon</a> boutique, <ahref="http://www.zadok.com/">Zadok Jewelers</a>.

Hublot Bruce Lee Be Water in ceramic, $29,800, at the Hublot boutique, Zadok
Jewelers, Markham Jewelers.

Speedmaster ’57 Omega coaxial chronograph, $9,000, at the Omega boutique, Lewis Jewelers, the Tourbillon boutique.

David Yurman Chronograph in steel, $4,600, at the David Yurman boutique, Lewis Jewelers, Bachendorf’s.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 in Everose gold, $37,550, at the Rolex boutique, Bachendorf’s, de Boulle, Eiseman Jewels, Ben Bridge, Deutsch & Deutsch, I W Marks, Lewis Jewelers, Thomas Markle Jewelers.

Breguet Complications 1907 pocket watch in gold, price upon request, at the Tourbillon boutique, Ben Bridge, Zadok Jewelers, Markham Jewelers.

Longines Heritage 1969 in steel, $2,050, at Zadok Jewelers, Bachendorf’s.

Tiffany & Co. CT60 in rose gold, $15,000, at <a href="http://www.tiffany.com/watches/all-watches/tiffany-ct60-chronograph-42-mm-36342064?omcid=PPC_PLA+-+CT60+-+WAT&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=PLA+-+CT60+-+WAT&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Vsfw60UD|pcrid|85532389214|pkw||pmt||pdv|c|&mkwid=sVsfw60UD|pcrid|85532389214|pkw||pmt||pdv|c|mtid|744dpc50313|&gclid=CjwKEAiAyanCBRDkiO6M_rDroH0SJAAfZ4KLHze-SxqQEXPfILvM2RESOOICHypJ36h7H-41IuqziBoCUu7w_wcB">Tiffany & Co</a>.

Baume & Mercier Classima in rose gold, $5,750, at Ben Bridge, Zadok Jewelers, Eiseman Jewels.

IWC Portuguese Yacht Club chronograph in
steel, $12,100, at Eiseman Jewels, Markham Jewelers, Ben Bridge Jewelers, Zadok Jewelers.

Omega Speedmaster ’57 co-axial chronograph, $9,000, at the Omega boutique,
Bachendorf’s, Lewis Jewelers, the
Tourbillon boutique.

Clé de Cartier in palladium $68,500, at the Cartier boutique, Ben Bridge, Deutsch &
Deutsch, Eiseman Jewels, Markham Jewelers.

Shinola Rambler 600 in titanium, $1,325, at the Shinola boutique, Neiman Marcus.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo in platinum, $29,800, at the Bulgari boutique, Zadok Jewelers, Markham Jewelers.

Watches can even make a man destined to be an all timer.

Elvis Presley, Winston Churchill, and Serge Gainsbourg were giants who ruled their domains. Known for their personal styles, magnetism (both men and women found them captivating), and mystique, these geniuses changed the world, affected millions, and inspire still today.

Their backgrounds and influences may have been diverse, but they shared a love of watches — a passion bordering on obsession, wonderfully evident in images of the trio. Here’s what I imagine our conversations would be, and which timepieces they would wear today, ever elegant and perfect.

ELVIS PRESLEY
I gave away so many watches, man. I lost count. Loved wearing them, got a kick out of giving them away. I didn’t need all the ones I had anyway, like the cars. Cadillacs and Rolexes, I made a lot of people happy with those things. When I was a kid in the Army, I always wore my Omega. Still had that one at the end. There’s never enough time, is there?

SERGE GAINSBOURG
It might not surprise you, but time wasn’t all that important to me. I had my people to tell me when I needed to be somewhere, and I was usually on time that surprises you, no? I did wear watches, of course, never went outside without one. Just look at all those photographs! My cigarette and my Speed master: I made them famous. Jane has a dresser drawer in her bedroom full of my watches, and I am happy to see that she winds them regularly. Merci, beautiful.

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WINSTON CHURCHILL
They tried to make me stay on time, always. But what’s the harm in 10 additional minutes of sleep? Setting all the clocks in my rooms ahead was a clever trick, but my Turnip never lied. The seventh Duke of Marlborough — my grandfather — purchased it in 1890, and it was passed down to me. I have nothing against wristwatches and even owned a few, but I preferred my Breguet pocket watch. My great-grandson Randolph owns it now; timepieces such as this one must remain in the family.