Image via Complex Original
The art of watch collecting is a relatively new phenomenon. According to a New York Times article, luxury wristwatch collectors have only been in existence for about 20 years, but the business is booming. Today, big-time celebrities have some of the most impressive collections in the world.
Unless you’re a star entertainer or a straight up baller, owning multiple luxury watches is probably unrealistic. So, owning a single watch with multiple functions is a nice way to double up on your investment. For this, the LG G Watch R smart watch combines a classic look with the latest technology. Along with being able to tell the time, the LG G Watch R allows you to send texts, use apps, and get social media updates from your wrist when paired with a compatible Android device.
For novices and those looking to get into the watch-collecting world alike—or those simply looking for some timepiece inspiration in 2015—the following are ten celebrities who have accumulated some of the best collections in the world, and who can provide some direction for your own.
Carmelo Anthony
NBA players like Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James are all endorsed by luxury watch companies, but none are as invested as Carmelo Anthony. The New York Knicks forward, who is a partner of International Watch Collection (IWC), co-founded and launched Haute Time, a print and online publication dedicated to luxury watches. Anthony recently showed his insane collection that includes pieces from Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Hublot, IWC, and Patek Phillipe in a video for Haute Time.While the Knicks continue to struggle on the court, ’Melo can find some solace in knowing that his collection is superior to those of his peers.
Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper had his breakthrough moment in 2009 when The Hangover smashed box office records, and he has been one of Hollywood’s biggest stars since. As his professional profile grows, so does his impressive watch collection. Cooper has been seen wearing an $11,000 IWC watch, Rolexes, a Bulgari Octo Watch, Dior Homme, and more.
Jay Z
One only has to listen to Hov’s lyrics to get an idea of what kind of wristwear he has at home, but that really just scratchs the surface of his collection. He’s been seen wearing a Richard Mille DLC tourbillon, a “cheap” ($500) TW Steel watch, and a platinum Rolex Day Date II, amongst others. The rapper has also been generous with watch gifting, too. After Watch the Throne dropped in 2011, it is rumored that he and Kanye West gave their sound engineers customized Rolex GMT Masters for not leaking the album.
Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen was late to the Twitter party when he joined in 2011 during his crazy public onslaught that resulted in him getting canned from Two and a Half Men. After amassing 650,000 followers in less than 24 hours, Sheen Tweeted out a picture that caught the attention of watch lovers everywhere. Though Sheen was showing off Babe Ruth’s 1927 World Series ring on his finger that he bought at an auction, on his wrist was a $700,000 Patek Philippe Re. 2438/1 watch, stealing the show.
Sheen has amassed a huge collection of Patek Philippe watches and even “misplaced” a Patek Philippe Chronograph Perpetual Calendar 5970 watch estimated at $175,000. No big deal, though, as the actor has plenty of them sitting around. Sheen’s watch collection is reportedly worth $5.6 million.
Kanye West
In true ‘Ye fashion, the superstar rapper has a customized $180,000, 18-karat yellow gold Tiret watch that features a silhouette of his face on the dial. His “face,” which includes sunglasses, of course, is made up of eight karats of yellow, black, brown, and white diamonds. Aside from the customized Tiret, Kanye has also been spotted donning a Rolex gold Daytona, a limited edition Bape G-Shock, and a dope customized all-black Rolex Submariner.
Robert Downey Jr.
While most celebrity watch collectors stick to the classics, Iron Man does things a little differently. Downey Jr. has been seen in various Jaeger-LeCoultre pieces, including a platinum AMVOX 5 World Chronograph and an AMVOX Tourbillon GMT. The actor does have some versatility in his collection as well, as he’s also been spotted in a Bvlgari Diagono Chronograph and a Hublot Big Bang.
Brad Pitt
One of Hollywood’s leading men, Pitt is a brand ambassador for Tag Heuer, but his collection runs the gamut of luxury brands. Along with the obvious Tag Heuer pieces, the megastar has also been seen wearing a $23,000 Patek Philippe Nautilus and multiple Rolexes, including a GMT Master II, Submariner, and a Day Date. Pitt’s wife, Angelina Jolie, is no slouch either. The bombshell actress has an impressive collection of her own and she even bought her husband a $300,000 Patek Philippe Nautilus when the two were engaged—a Hollywood power couple to say the least.
Leonardo DiCaprio
A successful actor, global activist, and the face of Tag Heuer watches, Leonardo DiCaprio is a man of many hats. DiCaprio’s collection of watches is just plain sick. From the classic Carrera 1887 Chronograph, to a limited edition Aquaracer, Leo has ’em all. His love for watches carries over on to the big screen as well. In The Wolf of Wall Street, he sports a yellow gold Rolex GMT Master. In Blood Diamond, the actor wears a Breitling Chrono Avenger, and in The Great Gatsby, DiCaprio wears a classic Raymond Weil piece.
Usher
Kanye West isn’t the only artist with a watch that bears his face on the dial. Back in the mid-2000s, Dame Dash gave Usher a watch with over 1,100 diamonds on the dial that made up the R&B singer’s face. The watch was briefly displayed at London’s Natural History Museum, but is now in a jewelry drawer in Usher’s Atlanta home. The gaudy piece is just one of 40 luxury watches that the superstar owns. Despite having so many watches, not a single one of them has the right time. “I’m serious,” Usher told the Daily Mail. “I have to ask someone if I want to know what time it is. To me, they’re like trinkets. I wear them as such.” Must be nice.
John Mayer
Mayer is a true watch connoisseur. The Grammy winner doesn’t just go for the most expensive pieces on the market—he truly studies the craftsmanship of watches and has been doing so since 2000. Mayer has a wide-ranging collection that includes a rare Patek Philippe with a Sky Moon Tourbillion, a Rolex GMT-Master 116710 BLNR, and an IWC Big Pilot Ref 5002, among many others. And he doesn’t just keep the watches sitting in storage, either. As a rule of thumb, he won’t buy a watch if he’s not going to wear it.