The run-up to this year’s Oscars was the most politically charged since the last one. Perhaps that’s why, outliers aside (hello Billy Porter) so many stars opted for a very traditional take on black tie. Classic, without the twist. When you’re walking on eggshells, sometimes it's best to do it in clothing that doesn’t shout and scream.
The same was true of the watches worn at this year’s ceremony. The trend was for timeless elegance, from Rami Malik’s Pasha de Cartier Collection watch to Antonio Banderas’s automatic titanium Bulgari Octo Finissimo. These were models that would look right at any Oscars, at any time. The event is sponsored by Rolex, and classics from its own catalog were well represented by stars including Timothée Chalamet, who tweeted a line from Kanye West’s ‘Christian Dior Denim Flow’ about wearing a rose gold Day-Date (‘ROSE GOLD PRESIDENTIAL ON MY BONY WRIST’), and Spike Lee, who wore one of Rolex’s best recent releases: a circa-2018 rose-gold GMT-Master II.
Taika Waititi's Panerai PAM 728
Bimetal watches have been an industry trend for a few years now. Though this Panerai is all-steel, we still think it goes pretty nicely with Taika Waititi's golden Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar.
Rami Malek's Cartier Pasha de Cartier
Rami Malek's classic black tux gets an equally throwback accessory in the shape of a vintage-inspired Pasha de Cartier ticker.
Antonio Banderas's Bulgari Octo Finissimo
Bulgari has become the leader in the extra-thin watch world in the last few years, thanks to its slimline Octo Finissimo. Although even at just 5.15mm, Antonio Banderas still seems to be struggling to fit it under his cuffs.
Ryan Seacrest's Rolex Daytona 6263
When you're the official face of the red carpet, you wear the sponsor's watch. Not a bad deal when the face on your wrist is this pretty.
Timothée Chalamet's Rolex Day-Date
No gold on the night for Timmy, but plenty on his wrist, in the shape of this Day-Date. It nails the Rolex signature of being the sleekest way to wear this much bling.
Colin Jost's Tag Heuer Monaco
Ford v Ferrari went home (mostly) empty-handed, but it wasn't a completely barren night for motorsports – this Steve McQueen racing favorite turned up on the wrist of ScarJo's other half.
Spike Lee's Rolex GMT-Master
Rolex doesn't do a purple-and-yellow gold watch, although if it did, you can bet Spike Lee would have made it part of his Kobe Bryant-tribute outfit. As it was, this rose gold version looked the part anyway.
This story originally appeared on Esquire.co.uk. Minor edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.
