Emmy Awards 2025: The 12 Best Watches from the Red Carpet

Highlights from the Red Carpet

Walton Goggins – Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin

The Overseas line has become one of Vacheron Constantin’s most commercially successful modern families. Goggins’s choice, a pink-gold Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin, embodies the fusion of sport-luxury and haute horlogerie. At just over 8 mm in thickness, the watch is a technical achievement, yet it retains 50 metres of water resistance and a strong aesthetic versatility.

James Marsden – IWC Portofino Complete Calendar

The Portofino collection has long been a pillar of IWC’s more classical designs. The Complete Calendar offers full calendar indications without the perpetual mechanism, making it practical while remaining refined. Introduced in 2022, the complication reflects IWC’s strategy of expanding accessible yet sophisticated options within its dress-watch portfolio.

Tramell Tillman – Audemars Piguet Code 11:59 Perpetual Calendar

Tillman’s Code 11:59 reinforced Audemars Piguet’s determination to build a modern family beyond the Royal Oak. The model includes astronomical displays such as moon phase and leap-year indication, powered by calibre 5134. Its smoky blue lacquer dial represents one of the strongest aesthetic executions in the Code 11:59 line.

Nate Bargatze – Breguet Classique Souscription 2025BH

This watch forms part of Breguet’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The reference draws direct inspiration from Abraham-Louis Breguet’s Souscription watches of 1796, which were sold on subscription to broaden access to precision timekeeping. The contemporary model reflects this history while updating it with modern finishing and reliability, making its red-carpet appearance significant in Breguet’s commemorative year.

Colman Domingo – Omega Speedmaster Two-Tone

The Speedmaster’s legacy as the Moonwatch makes it a constant fixture in Omega’s catalogue, but the two-tone versions underscore its adaptability to more formal occasions. Domingo’s choice highlighted Omega’s ability to reinterpret its most famous model for modern style while retaining the integrity of the original design.

Benny Blanco – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Frosted Gold with “Crystal Sand” Dial

First introduced in 2016 through a collaboration with jeweller Carolina Bucci, the frosted finish has become a distinctive aesthetic within the Royal Oak family. Blanco’s watch, enhanced by the textured “Crystal Sand” dial, exemplified Audemars Piguet’s capacity to evolve the Royal Oak into a platform for artisanal decoration as well as technical mastery.

Cristin Milioti – Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra

The Aqua Terra line balances Omega’s maritime heritage with elegance. The diamond-set dial worn by Milioti highlighted how the collection bridges jewellery and horology, a direction increasingly important in appealing to a wider clientele.

Brian Tyree Henry – Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Chronograph

The Reverso’s dual-dial format is ideally suited to house complications, and the Tribute Chronograph takes full advantage of this. The model combines a classic Art Deco-style dial on one side with an openworked chronograph display on the other, reflecting Jaeger-LeCoultre’s dual mastery of design and engineering.

Tayme Thapthimthong – Omega De Ville Prestige

The De Ville Prestige remains one of Omega’s most enduring lines, offering slim cases and a restrained design language. Recent updates to the collection have included Master Chronometer certification, reinforcing the brand’s emphasis on technical performance even within its most classically styled ranges.

Jesse Williams – Blancpain Villeret Quantième Complet

Blancpain has consistently championed traditional complications such as complete calendars. The Villeret Quantième Complet is powered by calibre 6654, featuring a secure under-lug corrector system that allows for easy adjustment. The model is emblematic of Blancpain’s role as a guardian of classical horology.

Hiroyuki Sanada – IWC Portofino Automatic

Sanada’s Portofino Automatic illustrated how a simple three-hand model can carry elegance in abundance. The 40 mm reference combines IWC’s characteristic clarity with refined proportions, making it a perennial choice for formal settings.

Sam Rockwell – Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921

First released in 2009 as part of Vacheron Constantin’s Historiques line, the American 1921 reinterprets a cushion-shaped design originally made for the American market in the early 20th century. The off-centre dial and diagonal crown placement make it one of the most recognisable asymmetrical watches in haute horlogerie today.

Market and Cultural Perspective

Appearances of watches on high-profile red carpets often influence collector demand and brand visibility. The Royal Oak Frosted Gold and Daytona have demonstrated in previous years how celebrity association can strengthen market desirability. The prominence of models like the American 1921 or the Reverso Tribute Chronograph at the Emmys will likely reinforce their reputation as benchmarks of classical design.

The event also reflected the broader trend of integrating horology into mainstream culture. As luxury watches become more visible in film, television and celebrity media, their dual role as precision instruments and cultural artefacts becomes ever more pronounced.

Conclusion

The 2025 Emmy Awards demonstrated how watches have taken on a role well beyond accessory status. From perpetual calendars and complete calendars to gem-set icons and historically inspired models, the red carpet became a showcase for the breadth of contemporary watchmaking. The choices of the attendees underlined an increasing preference for elegance and heritage, while still leaving space for innovation and artistry. In doing so, the event confirmed that the intersection of horology and popular culture is stronger than ever.