Famous People and Their Most Known Watches

Some watches are famous because of who wore them. This series goes person by person through the best-known watches of icons, athletes and astronauts, labels how well each one is documented, and corrects the myths that spread online. Each guide links into our brand and model histories and shows indicative US prices.

The guides

• Steve McQueen Watches
  The Heuer Monaco prop, his own Rolex Submariner 5512 and the disputed “To Loren” watch, with the evidence for each labelled.
• Paul Newman Watches
  The four documented Rolex Daytonas, from the $17.8 million “Drive Carefully Me” to the Zenith, and what the “Paul Newman dial” name really means.
• Elvis Presley Watches
  The Omega gifted by RCA, the Rolex King Midas at Graceland and his link to the Hamilton Ventura.
• John F. Kennedy Watches
  The Omega Ultra Thin now in Omega's museum, the Nastrix, the Bulova and Marilyn Monroe's Rolex.
• Buzz Aldrin and Apollo Astronaut Watches
  The Omega Speedmaster on the Moon: Aldrin's lost watch, Armstrong's, and how NASA chose the Speedmaster.
• Ayrton Senna Watches
  The TAG Heuer link to Senna, and which watches are documented and which are tribute editions.
• Winston Churchill Watches
  The Breguet and Omega attributed to Churchill, and the claims we could not source.
• Frank Sinatra Watches
  Sinatra's documented watches and the ones he gave away.
• Jerry Seinfeld Watches
  A living collector's watches, based on what he has said on the record.
• Roger Federer Watches
  The Rolexes Federer wears as a Rolex ambassador, separated from campaign models.
• Muhammad Ali Watches
  The Cartier Tank, Omega and Audemars Piguet linked to Ali, plus the tribute editions released since, each labelled by evidence.
• Marlon Brando Watches
  The bezel-less GMT-Master 1675 from Apocalypse Now, the Datejust tied to The Godfather and his other documented watches.
• Jacques Cousteau Watches
  The Doxa SUB 300, Omega Seamaster 300 and Rolex links to the diving pioneer, and which of them are documented.
• Niki Lauda Watches
  Lauda's Heuer years, the Monza tribute and the Rolex claims we could not confirm.
• Jackie Stewart Watches
  Jackie Stewart's Rolex years, from the Day-Date and King Midas to the Monaco award Daytona.

Coming next

More people are in research. If there is a series you want covered, our full library of brand and model histories and buying guides is the best place to continue.