Wrist Check: Met Gala 2026

Summary

• The 2026 Met Gala’s “Fashion is Art” dress code wasn’t just limited to haute couture gowns; stars on the red carpet elevated their looks with some of the world’s most exclusive and striking timepieces
• Audemars Piguet had a massive red carpet presence, gracing the wrists of Serena Williams, Anderson .Paak, and Skepta with incredibly rare, highly complicated Royal Oak models
• High jewelry took center stage as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson wore a 700-diamond Jacob & Co. Billionaire III, while LISA stunned in an 18k white gold BVLGARI Serpenti Spiga with a diamond pavé dial

At the Met Gala, an outfit is never truly complete without the perfect accessories—and for the stars on the red carpet, that usually means a serious piece of haute horology. While the 2026 “Costume Art” theme yielded plenty of sweeping trains and avant-garde tailoring, the wristwear proved just as artistic. Ranging from completely sapphire-encrusted statement pieces to uniquely shaped vintage dials, the watches of the 2026 Met Gala showcased the ultimate intersection of precise engineering and high-fashion expression.

When it comes to watch collecting, JAY-Z operates in a league entirely of his own. The music mogul commanded the red carpet with arguably the most significant watch of the evening: the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300. Valued well into the millions, it is the most complicated wristwatch Patek Philippe has ever created. The double-faced masterpiece boasts a staggering 20 complications, including a grande sonnerie, minute repeater, and perpetual calendar, proving that true artistry lies in elite mechanical engineering.

Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet had a major moment on the museum steps, acting as the timepiece of choice for three major heavyweights. Serena Williams used the red carpet to debut the brand’s new Calibre 7139 movement, wearing a 41mm titanium Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar. The highly technical piece featured Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG) accents and a sapphire dial that fully revealed the mechanical artistry at its core. Musician Anderson .Paak kept things sleek and monochromatic with an 18-carat white gold Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Openworked. Meanwhile, British rapper Skepta brought blinding radiance to the carpet, wearing a Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin crafted in 18-carat yellow gold and fully set with 1,528 brilliant-cut yellow sapphires.

The high-jewelry flexes didn’t stop there. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made a commanding statement with a Jacob & Co. Billionaire III. The hyper-luxurious skeleton watch is set with an astounding 700-plus diamonds, easily making it the most expensive timepiece he has worn to date. Matching that opulent energy, global superstar LISA coiled a BVLGARI Serpenti Spiga around her wrist. Crafted in 18k white gold, the serpentine masterpiece featured a dazzling diamond pavé dial that perfectly caught the flashing cameras.

For others, the “Fashion is Art” theme was an invitation to play with uniquely shaped, historical silhouettes. Bad Bunny leaned into archival elegance, pairing his custom Zara look with a beautiful vintage Cartier Cloche—a bell-shaped rarity that requires the wearer to view the time at a 90-degree angle. Rami Malek joined the Cartier club by delivering a masterclass in quiet, artistic disruption with the distinctively warped, surrealist dial of the legendary Cartier Crash. The art deco Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso was also a red-carpet favorite. Finn Wolfhard elevated his tailored look with a striking Reverso Tribute Milanese Cocktail watch in white gold with sapphire, while Gen Z “it-boy” Tyriq Withers strapped a classic steel Reverso to a sleek mesh bracelet.

Classic high horology and heavy precious metals rounded out the evening’s spectacular lineup. Nicholas Hoult brought timeless sophistication to the carpet, wearing a stunningly complex Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin in white gold. Fellow actor Paul Anthony Kelly paired his minimal Dior look with a deep-hued Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon. Adding to the precious metal presence, civil rights activist Al Sharpton coordinated a gold-dial Rolex Day-Date with his subtle pinstripes, Connor Storrie rocked an 18-carat moonshine gold Omega Constellation Observatory, and Luke Evans brought edge with a diamond-bezeled Hublot Big Bang.

Whether utilizing surrealist shapes, vintage archives, or blinding arrays of diamonds and sapphires, the stars of the 2026 Met Gala proved that true fashion mastery extends all the way down to the wrist. By pairing world-class garments with elite horology, they ensured their looks were nothing short of timeless.