You’ve gotta hand it to Glen Powell—the man is a natural ’90s-style, big-budget action hero. Maybe it’s the flashy aviators, or the smooth drawl, or the quick smile, but something about the dude just screams “summer blockbuster.” And, as it happens, the Hit Man star’s latest summer blockbuster just hit theaters today: Lee Isaac Chung’s much-anticipated Twisters.
You know what else ’90s action heroes did exceptionally well? Wear great watches. That’s a legacy Mr. Powell is keen on continuing as well, based on the excellent TAG Heuer Carrera he rocked to the LA premiere of Twisters. And while, to be fair, it doesn’t appear that he wore the watch while wrangling tornadoes in the film—I’ve yet to see it, but I have zoomed in on several official stills while perusing Google—it definitely seems like the right watch for such a job. The modern incarnation of a racing chronograph that Heuer introduced in 1963, the Carrera is a bona fide classic that looks great in virtually any iteration.
Monica Schipper
Tag Heuer
But Powell’s version is particularly cool. Why? It’s effectively the modern take on the classic ref. 3447NST, a triple-register Carrera with a black dial, silver-white subdials, and an outer tachymeter scale. (You may be familiar with this white-on-black look as a “panda” configuration, which pops up frequently on vintage racing chronos.) Back in early 2023, TAG Heuer launched its “Glassbox” Carrera, a newly reconfigured version with a curved inner flange and curved crystal that increases the visual space given over to dial real estate. (Look at it from the side, and the tachymeter rises beyond the 1/5th-seconds track all the way to the dial periphery below the crystal. It’s tough to explain, but looks incredible.)
Powered by TAG Heuer’s automatic TH00-20 movement (which includes a handy date function at 12 o’clock) and paired to a perforated calf leather strap in classic “rallye” style, the upsized, 39mm TAG Heuer Carrera chronograph is just the sort of modern update of a tried-and-true style that horological nerds love: While retaining the beloved features of the original—triple-register chronograph, “panda” livery, mid-sized case, etc.—it offers enough modern tech to appeal to a more casual buyer. And at $6,450, it undercuts competitors in the tool-watch/chronograph space by a significant margin.
We’ve seen Powell in a few cool timepieces from big brands before—IWC pilot’s watches in both Top Gun: Maverick and Devotion, as well as various Omegas at press events and courtside. And while a man chasing tornadoes could conceivably wear whatever watch he’d like—presumably, an F5 is going to rip said watch off your wrist no matter what it is—we like the idea of a twister wrangler rocking a chronograph built for speed.
Darren Gerrish
Pierce Brosnan’s Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945
Seated amongst the VIPs at Wimbledon last week was none other than James Bond himself, Mr. Pierce Brosnan. Impeccably dressed in Ralph Lauren Purple Label and beautifully coiffed, as always, Brosnan wore a Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 that he picked up in New York City in the early 2000s. A known watch lover with an extensive and far-ranging collection, Brosnan will wear whatever he fancies—or whatever is appropriate for a role—and doesn’t seem to be fenced in by any particular stylistic convention, complication, or brand. The yellow gold Vintage 1945, with offset date, power reserve, and running seconds displays, seems to hold a special place in his heart.
Diode SA – Denis Hayoun
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Diode SA – Denis Hayoun
Serena Williams’ Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini Frosted Gold
If you shrink a classic watch down enough in diameter, you can stack a bunch of ‘em like Tiffany bangles—which is exactly what Serena Williams did at the ESPYs last week when she sported two of the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini Frosted Gold watches. Available in 18K white, yellow, and pink “frosted” gold with a textured shimmer, these 23mm beauties are powered by the brand’s cal. 2730 quartz movement. A slightly upsized reimagining of a model from 1997, they’re small enough to be stacked and water-resistant enough to withstand a light shower, should you happen to get caught in the rain on the way to an awards ceremony.
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Courtesy of Hublot
Kylian Mbappé’s Hublot Square Bang Unico King Gold Blue Ceramic
In Spain to sign a five-year contract with Real Madrid, French footballer Kylian Mbappé wore a Square Bang Unico King Gold Blue Ceramic while sealing the deal. A Hublot brand ambassador, the young striker has been spotted in many of the maison’s wares, but the large, rectangular Unico is a serious statement piece: Housed in a 42mm gold and ceramic case paired to a blue rubber strap, its dial features a skeletonized, automatic Unico movement comprising no fewer than 354 parts. A dual-register chronograph and a date display at 3 o’clock provide plenty of utility, while the sleek case contours look elegant on-wrist despite its hefty dimensions.
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz’s Rolex Daytona
Snagging his second Wimbledon title against Novak Djokovic in two years, 21-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz wore a fitting watch: The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116518LN-0076. Being a Rolex testimonee, Alcaraz presumably has his pick of the litter when it comes to cool Rollies, but he has a particular affinity for this 18K gold-cased chrono with a grey meteorite dial. Discontinued after just two years in the brand’s catalog—along with other meteorite-dial Daytonas—the ref.116518LN-0076 is still a hot watch: Indeed, if you want to snag one for yourself, you’ll have to either shell out somewhere in the range of $80,000 to $90,000 on the secondary market…or become one of the world’s top-ranked tennis players. (Maybe start saving up now?)
