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As far as watch lovers are concerned, you can't do much better than the “Garden of Time” as a Met Gala 2024 dress code. Many of tonight's attendees took the theme literally or in directions that resulted in them wearing great and/or multiple watches. Take a look at Barry Keoghan, who gave us not one, not two, but three incredible watches, including a 1930s pocket watch. Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons, meanwhile, sported a clock briefcase alongside a gem-set Patek Philippe.
That's the good news! The would-be bad news is that typically these watches are obscured on the carpet by suit sleeves, extravagant coats, or simply photos with poor angles. But fret not, my friends: The best-dressed folks at the Met Gala are sending me their wristshots so you can soak up these watches in their full glory. See the list of exclusive close-ups below.
Barry Keoghan's trifecta of Omega watches
Keoghan and stylist Ilaria Urbinati took inspiration from the Garden of Time dress code and leaned into a Mad Hatter-style outfit. Lucky for us, because it resulted in three Omega watches. “The most special is that pocket watch," Urbinati says. “A very fine and rare stainless ‘Staybrite’ steel dress pocket watch, with two-tone dial, produced in the early '30s.”
Jeremy Strong's Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari
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Jeremy Strong brought the heat on his upper lip (mustache), ear (dangly earring), and wrist (this Richard Mille). Strong, a RM loyalist, wore one of the brand's most impressive pieces this year. The UP-01 is the second-thinnest watch in the world.
Usher's Jacob & Co. Ruby Billionaire III
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Talk about a watch that's always ready for its close-up. Usher's $5,00,000 (!!) watch is made out of 714 rubies.
Ed Sheeran's Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar (John Mayer collaboration)
This is a game-respect-game situation. Mega watch collector Ed Sheeran wore the new Royal Oak made with fellow mega collector John Mayer. The “crystal sky” dial was a great tonal match with Sheeran's baby blue tux. The musician was styled by Stella McCartney.
Sebastian Stan's Cartier Crash
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Stan, styled by Michael Fisher, wears one of the hottest watches in the world in the Cartier Crash. This is a platinum version from 1993.
Kieran Culkin's IWC Portugieser Automatic 40
Culkin is a longtime fan of IWC and the actor wore the brand's new Portugieser in soothing “Horizon” blue to the event. Those rings nearly steal the show—the Succession boys sure do know how to accessorize.
Nicholas Galitzine's TAG Heuer Carrera “60th Anniversary”
Galitzine's on- and off-camera romance with TAG continues at the Met Gala. The actor wore one of my favorite pieces from last year: a faithful remake of a silver-and-black Carrera.
Ben Simmons's Patek Philippe Aquanaut 7968/300r-001
The theme is the Garden of Time, but Brooklyn Nets point-forward Simmons has a Rainbow of Time with this gem-set Aquanaut.
Alton Mason's IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar
Score another one for IWC. This time, it's the world's biggest male model rocking the brand’s new IWC Perpetual Calendar with a beige “Dune” dial. “How can a watch be so timeless?” Mason said of his Met accessory. A fitting question for a perpetual calendar that will remain accurate until the year 2100.
Jonathan Bailey's Omega De Ville Tresor
Bailey is wearing Omega's sublimely simple De Ville. This is a three-hand watch with all the fixings: a white-gold case and diamonds set along the bezel.
Donald Glover's Cartier Roadster
Glover and his stylist Urbinati (who also dressed Keoghan) says they took inspiration from “American Psycho’s Patrick Bateman.” The sporty two-tone watch may be from the mid-2000s, but it perfectly channels that opulent ’80s feel.
Morgan Spector's IWC Portugieser Automatic 42
As we've seen at past Met Galas, the night is a great time to show off new releases. Spector is wearing one from IWC—the brand's made-over Portugieser in the white “Horizon” colorway.