Cumulatively, they probably cost as much as the GDP of a small country!
Life of the rich and famous can make us mere mortals feel extremely poor. Even if we are living a good life in comparison to those far less fortunate! When it comes to a man’s financial or sartorial stature no other accessory matches up to the value of a timeless watch. There’s one for every occasion and for every kind of man. Man’s Life takes a closer look at the coveted timepieces of some of the most popular faces from India and abroad!
From luxury cars and holidays to his enviable watch collections—Hardik Himanshu Pandya is truly living life king size. In the world of horology, Patek Philippe timepieces are nothing short of being treasures. A watch collector’s dream, they’re auctioned for amounts that perhaps have too many zeros to fit this page! The young cricketer’s latest acquisition features 32-baguette-cut emeralds embedded in a watch made entirely using platinum. While the 5711 range is rare, the dark-grey, emerald model is even more so. The price tag hovers above the ₹5 crore mark!
Apart from his acting and fashion chops, Ranveer Singh is also known for his love for exquisite things. No, we are not talking about his wife Deepika Padukone (she’s not a thing, duh)! We are talking about his love for luxury cars, Gucci (and other brands) and watches. Singh has been a brand ambassador of the Geneva-based watchmaker Franck Muller since 2019, and is often seen wearing different watches from the brand. His go-to timepiece seems to be the limited-edition Yachting Watch from the Vanguard range. A collector’s piece, it comes decked in diamonds right from the bezel to the number, all encased in white gold. This one is said to cost on the upwards of ₹2 crore!
He’s one of the biggest sports stars on the planet. Among many other exclusive, luxurious stuff, Cristiano Ronaldo too has an enviable collection of ultra-expensive watches. The ace footballer perhaps has a watch from every brand worth its penny under the sun—but a standout is the venerated Swiss watchmaker Rolex’s most expensive watch—the GMT Master ICE. The model is set in 18k gold with 30 carats of glistening white diamonds on its dial, bezel and bracelet. It costs almost a jaw-dropping ₹4 crore!
The Canadian Grammy-winning artist, The Weeknd, recently took to his Instagram to share his new Audemars Piguet Black Panther timepiece. A limited-edition collaboration between the Swiss watchmaker and Marvel—only 250 pieces have been released. AP could’ve just made a watch in the character’s colours and called it a day. Instead, there’s a literal sculpture of the superhero on the dial with the black and purple accents. You don’t have to like comic books to appreciate high craftsmanship. This wrist piece can set you back by a little over ₹1 crore!
Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli has an impeccable taste and doesn’t shy away from putting that on display. His collection of wrist pieces includes—Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day Date, a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, and a Patek Philippe Nautilus. One of his recent photographs updated on Instagram (clicked by his wife Anushka Sharma)—revealed his newest acquisition. A brand new, bright-orange strapped—Patek Philippe Aquanaut Chronograph. Perfect for those who lead an active lifestyle, this luxury sports watch is priced at ₹31 lakh (excluding import duties). India’s international super star, Shah Rukh Khan owns this watch too among many other exclusive pieces!
The first astronauts who went to the moon were given watches after completing their mission: A few months after returning from space, at a gala dinner organised by OMEGA—they were presented with gold editions of their timepieces. (They already had their NASA-issued Speedmasters on their trip to the moon.) 50 years later, OMEGA recreated those gold watches and produced just 1,014 of them. As a brand ambassador of this yet another Swiss brand, global superstar and heartthrob, Hollywood actor, George Clooney happens to own one of them. This 18k gold design is full of lunar history as well as modern materials and is said to cost somewhere around ₹25 lakh!
The first to win 20 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, Roger Federer is an icon! The Swiss maestro has a fair haul of luxury watches, as you might expect from someone who takes home over $100 million a year. The tennis veteran’s association with Rolex started back 2006, and continues to this day! Naturally, he owns an impressive range of watches from the brand. The latest addition to that is the Oyster Perpetual with a green dial. The watch is new, but totally has vintage vibes. This watch is a direct descendant of the original Oyster, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch—on which the Geneva-based brand has built its reputation since 1926. This timepiece available in fun, colourful dials can be yours for just under ₹5 lakhs.
We think it’s perhaps fair to say that watches are to men what jewellery is to women! Just how jewels are passed down as heirlooms, watches, especially ones painstakingly made with hands—can be used to build a lasting legacy. This is why watch connoisseurs the world over, are always on the lookout for auctions for both vintage and limited models—as for them, these are pieces of art that they can wear on their wrist!
[Featured Image Credits: OMEGA]
Eva Pavithran
Vertical Head - Lifestyle