Kevin Hart Wore the Anti-Hype Patek Philippe

For years now, Kevin Hart has collected watches the same way he approaches comedy: with a brashness that belies his thoughtful approach and appreciation for the craft. The comedian’s collection has included everything from gem-set Rolex Daytonas and highly complicated Patek Philippes to ultra-thin Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks, often skewing toward the kind of heavy-hitting flex pieces you’d expect from one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Which is exactly why the watch Hart chose for The Roast of Kevin Hart on Netflix felt so interesting. Amid an arena full of iced-out chronographs and million-dollar wrist candy (more on that Tom Brady and below), Hart showed up wearing a surprisingly restrained Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse ref. 5738/51G-001, one that seasoned collectors instantly recognized as something very serious.

The Golden Ellipse occupies a peculiar place in the Patek Philippe universe. Introduced in 1968, the model was designed around the “golden ratio,” the mathematical proportion long associated with classical art and architecture. Unlike the Calatrava’s pure roundness or the Nautilus’s sporty aggression, the Ellipse was all about subtlety: a softly rounded rectangular case, impossibly thin profile, and minimalist dial that prioritized proportion over complication. For decades, it existed as one of Patek’s quietest watches—a favorite among insiders, but often overlooked by the broader market in favor of the brand’s more obviously collectible sports models.

That dynamic has changed dramatically in recent years. As the watch world has drifted away from hype-driven steel sports watches and back toward elegant dress pieces, the Golden Ellipse has undergone a genuine reassessment among collectors. Vintage examples have become increasingly sought after, while Patek itself has doubled down on the line with more ambitious executions. This year’s Watches and Wonders releases—which included new white-gold Golden Ellipse references with rich olive-green sunburst dials and sizes spanning both the classic large-format ref. 5738G-001 and the more compact ref. 3738/100G-014—only reinforced that shift. The maison’s message was clear: the Ellipse is no longer a niche side project buried deep in the catalog, but an increasingly central expression of Patek’s design identity.

Hart’s particular example takes that understated formula and elevates it into something closer to wearable art: The white-gold case houses a black dial engraved by hand using the traditional Fleurisanne technique, creating an intricate floral texture that shifts dramatically under light. An applied onyx signature at 12 o’clock adds another layer of refinement. It’s not loud by modern celebrity-watch standards, but that’s precisely the point. This is the sort of Patek collectors love because it requires context and knowledge to fully appreciate. The Ellipse rewards taste rather than visibility.