Wrist Check: 14 Best Watches at the 2026 BAFTA Awards

Summary

• The 2026 BAFTA Awards red carpet showcased an impressive array of 14 standout vintage and contemporary timepieces
• Actor Michael B Jordan leaned into the ongoing trend of men wearing vintage ladies’ watches with a diamond-encrusted Vacheron Constantin
• History-making filmmaker Ryan Coogler celebrated his Best Original Screenplay win wearing a rare meteorite dial Rolex Daytona

The Rolex Daytona, Vacheron Constantin Vintage Prestige de la France, and Cartier Tank Basculante led an incredible showcase of the 14 best watches at the 2026 BAFTA Awards. The prestigious London red carpet delivered a masterclass in high-end horology, proving that Hollywood’s elite are increasingly opting for niche heritage designs, rare materials, and stealth-wealth statements over standard modern pieces.

Leading the vintage revival, Michael B. Jordan embraced the trend of men donning vintage ladies’ watches, wearing a 1970s Vacheron Constantin Vintage Prestige de la France cast in 18-karat yellow gold and set with diamonds. Paul Mescal kept things understated with a 1999 Cartier Tank Basculante featuring a unique reversible rectangular case. The Cartier love continued with David Jonsson wearing a 1970s gold Vintage Vendome, Tom Blyth dripping in a large gold Santos-Dumont, and Robert Aramayo sporting a sleek steel Ballon Bleu.

On the chronograph front, Leonardo DiCaprio secured a major flex with a white-gold Rolex Daytona “Le Mans.” Released to mark the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the piece had a notoriously short 10-month production run, making it a highly coveted modern grail. Ryan Coogler also brought the heat with a beautiful Rolex Daytona featuring a rare meteorite dial, celebrating his historic Best Original Screenplay win. Meanwhile, Aaron Pierre stepped out in the latest Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional, flexing a Moonshine gold case and a striking reverse panda dial with mirrored black lacquer.

Avant-garde and stealth-wealth choices were out in full force. Timothée Chalamet won the style game in a rare Urban Jürgensen UJ-2, while Stormzy paired his sharp tailoring with a black ceramic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked. Patrick Dempsey opted for a TAG Heuer Carrera Tourbillon featuring a signature bezel-free glassbox design and a smoky purple sunray dial.

Rounding out the robust list, Omega Seamasters made a strong showing. Ethan Hawke added a fun spin to his black-tie attire with a steel Aqua Terra boasting a pine green dial, while Stellan Skarsgård wore a gold Seamaster Milano Cortina 2026 edition. Finally, Miles Caton swapped his usual wristwear for a sporty 40mm steel Louis Vuitton Tambour featuring an integrated bracelet and an on-trend blue dial.