Spotting high-end watches might as well be an Olympic sport at the 2024 Summer Games. Over the past week in Paris, both athletes and celebrities have showcased impressive wristwear. For those looking to join in the trend, we’ve compiled a guide to the best watch boutiques in Paris.
Team USA basketball stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis sported Audemars Piguet Royal Oak tourbillons at the opening ceremony, while multi-talented Pharrell Williams donned his ultra-thin Richard Mille timepiece as he carried the torch.
Actor Tom Cruise and director Spike Lee displayed their Rolex classics, cheering for Team USA, while musician John Legend showcased another Audemars Piguet Royal Oak in the stands. American snowboarder Shaun White was seen supporting fellow Olympians with an Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch on his wrist.
Here are the week’s top watch highlights:
Tom Cruise – Rolex Day-Date 40
Tom Cruise sported a sleek Day-Date 40, featuring a 40 mm case, fluted bezel, and President bracelet, as he cheered on gymnast Simone Biles. The watch, possibly made of platinum or white gold, features a meteorite or mother-of-pearl dial with diamond hour markers, a date window at 12 o’clock, and a day display at 3 o’clock.
Anthony Davis – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon
Anthony Davis wore a striking Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon at the opening ceremony. Released in 2018 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Royal Oak Offshore, the watch features a 45 mm case, skeletonized dial, rose gold accents, and a hand-wound caliber 2947 movement with a tourbillon at 9 o’clock and a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock. Limited to 50 pieces, it originally cost around $322,514.
Spike Lee – Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
Spike Lee chose a rare Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with a meteorite dial, yellow-gold case, black Cerachrom bezel, and Oysterflex bracelet. Meteorite dials were discontinued for the Daytona models in March, making Lee’s watch extremely rare and valuable on the secondary market.
Shaun White – Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch
Shaun White, known for his Olympic gold medals, wore a dazzling Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch in Paris. Released in 2022, the watch features a 42 mm Moonshine Gold case, green PVD dial, green ceramic bezel, and manual-winding chronograph movement, priced at $42,600.
Pharrell Williams – Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari
Pharrell Williams showcased his Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari, unveiled in July 2022. Once the world’s thinnest wristwatch at 1.75 mm thick, it was later surpassed by the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra. The watch features a 55 mm cushion-shaped dial, designed to resemble a Ferrari dashboard, and was limited to 150 pieces, priced at $1.88 million.
John Legend – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
John Legend flaunted a yellow-gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” while watching the swimming events. The placement of the AP logo suggests it is a Series C model. Watch enthusiasts use different letters to denote various dial configurations of the Royal Oak series.
LeBron James – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon
LeBron James wore an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon at the opening ceremony. Released in 2020, it features a 41 mm pink-gold case, blue dial with “Tapisserie Evolutive” pattern, and a bezel set with 32 baguette-cut sapphires. The manually wound 2924 caliber powers the watch, offering a 72-hour power reserve. While LeBron’s exact model is no longer available, similar platinum versions can be acquired upon request.
