The Best Watches of Golden Globes 2026: Big Watches, Smaller Views
Every January, Hollywood’s awards season kicks off with the Golden Globes, an event long associated with glamour, prestige, and carefully curated style. Watches have traditionally played a quiet but powerful role on the red carpet, signaling status, taste, and brand alignment. Yet in 2026, the conversation around red carpet watches exists in a very different cultural landscape.
Live television audiences for major award shows continue to decline year over year, with the Golden Globes reflecting the broader shift toward on-demand viewing and social media highlights. While fewer viewers may be watching the ceremony in real time, interest in fashion details, particularly watches, remains strong within digital communities. In many ways, watches have become content designed not for television cameras but for Instagram posts, close-up photos, and collector forums.
That context makes the watch choices at the Golden Globes 2026 especially interesting.
From Getty Images
The Heavy Hitters Still Matter
Despite the changing media landscape, traditional luxury brands remain firmly planted on celebrity wrists.
Leonardo DiCaprio wore a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Le Mans edition (around 250K€), a rare and highly coveted piece that continues Rolex’s dominance in awards season watch spotting.
George Clooney opted for an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra (7K€) with a turquoise dial, a refined choice that added subtle personality without overpowering formal attire. Kumail Nanjiani selected a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar (100K€), signaling genuine horological appreciation rather than just brand recognition.
Another couple: Cole Walliser, creator of the GlamBOT camera system, wore an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in a white ceramic case(traded second hand for closer to 300K€ these days.
Vince Gilliga, creator of the much-hyped series Pluribus (not to mention Breaking Bad), wore a Rolex Daytona Ref. 116519 (30K€).
These selections reinforce that classic luxury still carries weight, even as fewer people may be watching the broadcast itself.
From Getty Images
Vintage and Independent Choices Signal a Shift
Some of the most compelling watches of the night came from stars leaning into individuality rather than mainstream luxury.
Jennifer Lawrence wore a vintage Longines from 1916, emphasizing history and craftsmanship over modern hype.
Timothée Chalamet chose an Urban Jürgensen UJ-2, a watch respected by collectors but largely unknown to the mainstream audience.
Paul Mescal wore a Cartier Tortue Paris model, an elegant and understated reference that rewards closer inspection.
These watches resonate more deeply with niche audiences online, suggesting that relevance today is measured less by mass exposure and more by cultural credibility.
From Getty Images
A Rare Moment of Accessibility
One of the most surprising watch sightings of the evening came from Nick Jonas, who wore a Fossil Carraway. In a room filled with watches valued well into six figures, this was a rare reminder that red carpet style does not always have to be unattainable.
As awards shows compete for relevance, moments like this create a sense of relatability. A recognizable, affordable watch can sometimes generate more conversation than an ultra-rare collector’s piece, especially among younger audiences who engage with fashion digitally rather than through live television.
Flash Versus Restraint
At the more extravagant end of the spectrum, Dwayne Johnson wore a diamond-set Chopard Alpine Eagle, making an unmistakable statement of luxury and presence.
In contrast, other attendees leaned toward quieter elegance with classic Omega and TAG Heuer models that blended seamlessly with formal attire.
This contrast highlights a broader tension in modern celebrity styling. Some choices are designed for spectacle, while others are meant to reward attention from those who care enough to look closely.
What the Watches Say About Awards Shows Today
The Golden Globes no longer dominate cultural conversation the way they once did. Viewership fragmentation means that influence is now measured in clicks, shares, and reposts rather than Nielsen ratings. Watches, particularly distinctive or unexpected ones, thrive in this environment because they translate well into bite-sized digital content.
In 2026, the best watches of the Golden Globes tell a story that extends beyond luxury. They reflect how celebrities and brands are adapting to a world where attention is harder to capture and easier to lose. Whether through heritage pieces, independent watchmakers, or unexpectedly accessible choices, the wrist has become one of the most effective storytelling tools on the red carpet.
The audience may be smaller, but the details have never mattered more.