Even Superman Can’t Resist Rolex and Cartier

Superman possesses nearly every superpower imaginable: immense strength, flight, X-ray vision, and, apparently, watch collecting. At least that’s the takeaway from seeing David Corenswet, who plays Clark Kent in the new Superman movie, on the red carpet this week. The actor showed off a range of superhero-worthy watches this week, including a steel Cartier Tank Américaine and Rolex’s brand-new version of the 1908 on one of the sleekest gold bracelets in the industry.

It remains to be seen just how deep Corenswet’s horological interest delves, but he’s certainly off to a good start. Let’s start with his Cartier. The Américaine, launched in 1988 and based upon the classic Cintrée, is a fan favorite for its curved case and compelling design, while the still relatively new 1908 is not only a fresh Rolex collection, but is also suffused with the type of vintage inspiration that makes collectors salivate. They’re two very different watches, to be sure, but the net effect is the same. Each conveys a sense of elegance and timelessness that parallels their brands’ longevity in the horological arena.

Appearing at a Superman fan event in London, Corenswet wore his large-size Américaine with a double-breasted velvet dinner jacket and red bow tie—a clever nod to his character’s suit and a fit made easier to pull off thanks to his 6’4” frame and otherworldly handsomeness. The Américaine, of course, was made precisely for this type of red-carpet environ. While it might not be an ultra-thin piece in the manner of a midcentury Vacheron or AP its curved case architecture hugs the wrist, while its silvered dial with Roman numerals and blued sword hands looks hella elegant. (“Hellegant?”) The Large model also receives extra points for its automatic movement, a touch that hearkens back to vintage Cartier.

Corenswet’s second look from the Superman premiere in Los Angeles included a three-piece blue pinstripe suit—very Clark Kent—and the Rolex 1908 in yellow gold on its matching Settimo bracelet, a multi-link design that calls to mind the model’s star bracelet maker Gay Frères fashioned in the mid-20th centuryTK. Based upon a vintage reference from the brand’s archive, the 1908 replaced the Cellini as Rolex’s contemporary dress watch offering in 2023 and immediately earned watch-guy points for its excellent proportions, new automatic Calibre 7140 movement, beautiful guilloché dial in rice-grain motif, and classic fluted bezel. Available in yellow gold, white gold, or platinum on either leather or the Settimo bracelet (depending upon the configuration), Corenswet’s 1908 features a white dial with applied yellow gold indices, an outer railroad minute track, and a sub-seconds display above 6 o’clock.

A classic, curvaceous Cartier and a new Rolex dress model that pulls from the brand’s powerful back catalog…quite a one-two punch, if you ask us. If he survives Lex Luthor, maybe someone can hook the guy up with a proper sports watch to jive with the whole “Man of Steel” thing!

Jonathan Bailey’s Omega Railmaster

Appearing on his wrist in both the film’s Berlin premiere as well as in the actual movie itself, the Omega Railmaster is a fitting choice for Jonathan’s Bailey Dr. Henry Loomis, a paleontologist trying to survive a dino onslaught in the new Jurassic World Rebirth. The Railmaster debuted in 1957 as antimagnetic wristwatch for scientists alongside the Seamaster 300 and original Speedmaster. While it never quite achieved the fame of the brand’s dive watch and Moonwatch, the Railmaster nevertheless remained a fan favorite, and received new versions this year with monochromatic and tropical-looking gradient dials paired to straps or bracelets.

Nicholas Hoult’s Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Chronograph Pink Gold

Nicholas Hoult rocked a suite of impressive JLC models this past week on the Superman press tour. In New York City, he appeared wearing the Reverso Tribute Chronograph Pink Gold, a cool chronograph take on the maison’s flagship model. The Reverso is the gold-standard for flippalbe watches and this one makes full use of the dual sides. On one side is a beautiful time-only dial on one side and a unique skeletonized display a unique retrograde 30-minute totalizer on the other. (I would’ve pegged Lex Luthor for more of a Geophysic guy, myself, but it’s tough to argue with a solid-gold reversible chronograph.)

Tom Holland’s Rolex Cosmograph Daytona

Man, lots of superheroes and supervillains with great watches this week. Here’s another: Tom Holland, aka Spider-Man, rocking a splendid, solid-platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 126506 at Wimbledon. Holland’s watch is special on its own but his Daytona goes even further. A closer look at the dial reveals 11 diamond indices in place of the standard applied hour markers, making for an under-the-radar, IYKYK sort of take on the brand’s famed racing chronograph. Owned by numerous actors and musicians, the platinum Daytona is clearly a fan favorite.

Andrew Garfield’s Omega De Ville Trésor

Wimbledon or the multi-verse? Fellow Spider-Man Andrew Garfield stepped out at center court in a classy Omega De Ville Trésor, a subtle and handsome dress watch in a 40-mm stainless steel case with a silvered dial, applied indices and matching pencil hands, and a date window at 6 o’clock. Recalling vintage mid-century Omega designs, it’s one of the quieter, more under-the-radar models in the brand’s contemporary catalog. Powered by the brand’s Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8910—which is visible via a sapphire caseback—it’s more than fair to call it a serious Watch-Guy Watch.