GQ recently described this year’s Met Gala as the “best Met Gala for watches ever”, and it’s easy to see why. Year after year, the Met Gala becomes increasingly watched for its (often outrageous) celebrity fashion. From “punk” to “heavenly bodies” and everything in between, all attendees must dress according to the theme set for that year. However, to pay homage to the late Chanel designer the recent 2023 Met Gala theme was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty”. This led many guests to subdue their looks which, of course, left plenty of room for some experimental timepieces. Below, we have rounded up some of our favourites for our personal Top 5 Iconic Met Gala 2023 Watches.
Our Personal Top 5 Iconic Met Gala 2023 Watches
Bobby Wooten’s Oris Aquis Cherry Edition
Paired with a simple black suit, eagle-eyed watch enthusiasts spotted Wooten’s lively cherry dial Oris Aquis. The classic combination of monochrome with a pop of wristwear colour created an effortlessly elegant look for the Grammy-nominated composer.
ORIS Aquis Date Cherry Edition 41.5mm Stainless Steel Bracelet 01 733 7766 4158-07 8 22 05 PEB
Perfectly toying the line between vibrancy and subtlety, it’s no wonder the Oris Aquis Cherry Edition ended up at this year’s Met Gala. The cherry-red sunray dial breathes life into a timeless silhouette and is framed by a 41.5mm stainless steel case. For optimal readability in low-light conditions, the dial features large luminescent baton indices and hands. Other dial functions include hours, minutes, stop-seconds, and a date display. A high-quality sapphire crystal protects the dial and is coated with an anti-reflective layer on both the interior and exterior. Completing the model’s elegant look is a stainless steel bracelet.
In addition to its perfected appearance, the Cherry ORIS Aquis also boasts mechanical excellence. An automatic movement with a bidirectional rotor and a frequency of 28,800 A/h ticks beneath the watch’s surface. This movement also has 26 jewels and offers 38 hours of power reserve. Moreover, the watch also has impressive durability. With a water resistance of 30 bars or 300 metres, the watch easily withstands harsh conditions.
Taika Waititi’s Cartier Santos Dumont
Cartier is a staple brand of the luxury watch industry, and a fair few of its iconic pieces made an appearance on the red carpet. However, pulling together his soft blue number, Taika Waititi’s Cartier Santos Dumont is definitely our favourite.
We suggest: Herbelin Luna Silver Dial Black Leather Strap 17457AP01
If you’re looking to join in on the square-shaped dial trend, look no further. One of the brand’s most popular models in continental Europe, the Herbelin Luna is an effortlessly beautiful piece. Oozing luxury, the brushed silver guilloche square dial is the centrepiece of the design. Black Roman numeral indices contribute to the sophisticated look of the model and match the delicate hour and minute hands. Framing this design is a square-shaped stainless steel case that measures 24mm in width. This is tied together with a classic black leather strap. Finally, powering the watch is a Swiss-made Ronda 751 quartz movement. Stunning but modest, the Herbelin Luna is a brilliant choice for those looking for an everyday square-shaped dial model.
Eileen Gu’s IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition “150 Years” Pocket Watch
Who said the pocket watch was dead? Eileen Gu’s IWC Tribute to Pallweber Edition “150 Years” model certainly suggests otherwise. Gu accessorised the warm pink tones of her dress by carrying the rose-gold piece in her hand as she made her way down the Met Gala carpet.
We suggest: Woodford Half Hunter Rose Gold Pocket Watch 1092
To join the pocket-watch revival brigade yourself, we recommend this Woodford Half Hunter. Woodford has over 160 years of experience in the pocket watch industry and is therefore a very reliable brand. This particular pocket watch is a Half Hunter design, which refers to the cover of the watch and the aperture it features. The Half Hunter design means that you can see the time without leaving the face of the watch open and vulnerable to scratches.
Putting a more modern twist on a historic piece, the model itself is made from rose-gold stainless steel. Beneath the cover, the dial features a skeleton window into the hand-wound mechanical movement as well as black Roman numeral indices and three hands. Similarly, these Roman numeral hour markers are repeated on the case of the pocket watch. A historic and quirky timepiece, add this Woodford to your collection to get ahead of the arising pocket watch trend.
Jack Harlow’s Rolex GMT-Master II
Unsurprisingly, Rolex also formed a big part of many Met Gala looks this year. This includes Jack Harlow’s buttoned co-ord. Echoing the blues accents on his cuffs and pockets, Harlow sported a Rolex GMT-Master II in blue.
We suggest: Seiko Prospex Compact Solar 38.5mm Scuba Diver Grey Dial SNE569P1
The Seiko Prospex Compact Solar Scuba Diver also emulates this timeless silver and blue colour scheme. A unidirectional blue bezel sits on top of the stainless steel case, which measures 38.5mm in diameter. On the grey-back dial, there are luminescent hour markers and hands so the watch is easily read in low lighting. Moreover, there is a compact date display that is positioned at 3 o’clock. All of these dial features are protected by a curved anti-reflective sapphire crystal.
Most importantly, the model runs on a sustainable V147 calibre solar-powered quartz movement. As the battery recharges in both natural and electric light, this means that you do not need to replace the battery. Other practical features of the model include an overcharge prevention function and a stop-seconds hand function. To complete the design, a stainless steel bracelet secures the watch to the wrist. Reliable, practical, and durable, the Seiko Prospex Compact Solar Scuba Diver is a real catch.
Michelle Yeoh’s Richard Mille RM 07-01
Last but by no means least on our Top 5 Iconic Met Gala Watches list is Michelle Yeoh’s Richard Mille RM 07-01. Tonneau shape cases definitely were a popular trend amongst guests this year, with the likes of Jeremy Strong also wearing one. However, Yeoh’s monochrome piece was a standout. Straddling the line between daring and elegant, her skeleton tonneau-shaped timepiece is the perfect exemplar of what the Met Gala is all about.
We suggest: Ingersoll The Broadway Automatic Skeleton Dial Black Leather Strap I12903
This Ingersoll Broadway model also fuses the tonneau shape with a skeletal dial. Giving the wearer a view into the watch’s inner mechanism, the skeletal dial shows off the model’s automatic movement. Although multifunctional, the dial has been considerately designed so that it feels far from overcrowded. At 12 o’clock sits a day/night indicator, followed by the brand’s logo at 3 o’clock. Opposite this, there is a sub-dial to indicate the time in a second timezone. The dial is then encircled by silver baton indices and overlaid with two hands.
From an aesthetic point of view, the Ingersoll Broadway manages to maximise space on the dial without sacrificing readability. This is partly achieved through its sophisticated colour scheme. Gently contrasting the 43mm stainless steel case is a black leather strap, which fastens with a pin buckle. Overall, the watch boasts the ability to be quirkily unique without being overbearing.
Which iconic timepiece is your favourite on our Top 5 Iconic Met Gala Watches 2023? We want to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
