The Met Gala has quietly become one of the watch world’s biggest nights. The 2026 edition, themed “Costume Art,” brought out collector-grade pieces across Cartier, Omega, Audemars Piguet, Hublot, Patek Philippe, and Jacob & Co. Below are the standout watches from the red carpet, including a few that any serious enthusiast should know.
Rami Malek’s 1992 Platinum Cartier Crash
Rami Malek delivered one of the most talked-about watch moments of the night with a vintage 1992 Cartier Crash in platinum. The Crash is one of the most distinctive pieces in the Cartier watches catalog, with an asymmetrical, melted-looking case that draws comparison to Salvador Dalí’s Surrealist paintings. Few watches better suit a ‘Costume Art’ theme.
Bad Bunny’s 1996 Cartier Cloche
Bad Bunny brought another rare Cartier to the carpet with a 1996 Cartier Cloche. The Cloche is a sideways watch designed to be read as a desk clock when removed from the wrist, and it remains one of Cartier’s most charming horological oddities. Vintage examples are increasingly hard to find.
Derek Blasberg’s Cartier Tank “Asymétrique”
Derek Blasberg leaned into the night’s art-forward theme with a Cartier Tank Asymétrique. The asymmetrical interpretation of Cartier’s most iconic dress watch dates back to 1936 and was reissued in limited runs in recent years. It is a quieter pick than the Crash but no less collectible.
Connor Storrie’s Omega Constellation Observatory
Connor Storrie wore one of the buzziest new releases of the year. The brand-new Omega Constellation Observatory in Moonshine gold on a Moonshine gold bracelet. Among the Omega watches on the carpet, the Observatory was the most-worn new release of the night. The Observatory marks Omega’s first two-hand Master Chronometer, a meaningful technical milestone for the Constellation line.
For a closer look at the new Observatory, our guide to the new Omega Constellation Observatory covers the reference in detail.
Donal Finn’s Omega Constellation Observatory
The Young Sherlock star added old-school class to the carpet with another Omega Constellation Observatory. Finn’s choice reinforced the Observatory as one of the night’s most-worn new pieces. The reference has gained quick traction with style-forward collectors since its release.
Colman Domingo’s Vintage 1982 Omega Constellation “Manhattan”
Colman Domingo paired a bright Valentino ensemble with a vintage 1982 Omega Constellation “Manhattan,” reportedly sourced from Omega’s own museum. The Manhattan is one of the most influential watches in the Constellation lineage. It introduced the four-griffe case that still defines the collection today.
For more on the Constellation collection, our Omega Constellation for women guide covers the modern lineup, and the history of Omega watches puts the Manhattan in broader context.
Tom Francis’s Omega Constellation Observatory in Canopus Gold
British actor Tom Francis added another Observatory to the night, this time in 39.4mm Canopus Gold on an alligator strap. Canopus Gold is Omega’s proprietary white gold alloy, engineered to maintain its bright sheen over time. Francis’s choice highlighted the dressier side of the new Observatory. It is quieter than the gold-on-bracelet variants but no less significant.
Nicole Kidman’s 1982 Vintage Omega Constellation Manhattan
Nicole Kidman, who has long had a knack for choosing the right vintage Omega for the right occasion, wore a 1982 Constellation Manhattan in its most elevated jewelry form. The piece blends white and yellow gold with a diamond-dusted bezel and bracelet. The result transforms the Manhattan from a classic dress watch into something closer to fine jewelry. It is also a perfect echo to Colman Domingo’s vintage 1982 Manhattan from the same model year, making the Manhattan one of the night’s quietly recurring references.
Dwayne Johnson’s Jacob & Co. Billionaire III
Dwayne Johnson brought maximum impact with the $3 million Jacob & Co. Billionaire III, set with 714 emerald-cut white diamonds totaling nearly 130 carats. The Billionaire line is purpose-built for showstopping appearances, and the Met Gala is exactly the right stage.
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Russell Wilson’s Jacob & Co. Astronomia Meteorite
Russell Wilson chose the Jacob & Co. Astronomia Meteorite. This is a watch that features a miniature solar system rotating inside the case. The Astronomia is one of modern watchmaking’s most theatrical pieces and a fitting choice for an “art is fashion” theme.
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Skepta’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin
Skepta brought the brightest watch of the night with a yellow gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin set with 1,528 brilliant-cut yellow sapphires totaling over 10 carats. The ‘Jumbo’ is the closest modern reference to Gerald Genta’s original 1972 Royal Oak design. That heritage makes the gem-set treatment all the more striking
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Anderson .Paak’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Openworked
Anderson .Paak chose a more restrained but no less collector-grade Royal Oak. The ‘Jumbo’ Extra-Thin Openworked in white gold features a contrasting grey openworked dial that puts the movement on full display. For collectors who appreciate AP’s technical side over the gem-set spectacle, this was the watch of the night.
For a closer look at AP’s design language, our Royal Oak Chronograph hands-on review covers a different but equally important Royal Oak reference.
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Serena Williams’s Audemars Piguet Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar
Serena Williams added another Audemars Piguet to the night with a Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar. The perpetual calendar is one of watchmaking’s most prestigious complications, automatically accounting for varying month lengths and leap years without manual adjustment.
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Luke Evans’s Hublot Big Bang Unico High Jewelry
Luke Evans capped a custom Palomo look with a Hublot Big Bang Unico High Jewelry in white gold, set with 334 diamonds totaling 17.2 carats. Hublot’s high jewelry pieces are aimed squarely at red carpet visibility, and Evans wore it well.
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Stanley Tucci’s Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42
Stanley Tucci kept it classic with a Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42. The Premier line is Breitling’s most refined take on the chronograph, drawing from the brand’s 1940s wristwatch heritage and pairing it with the in-house B01 movement.
For more on Breitling, our guide to Precision Watches’ favorite Breitling watches covers the brand’s strongest current and vintage references.
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Jay-Z’s Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime (Ref. 6300)
Jay-Z arrived with one of the most significant watches in modern Patek Philippe history — the Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300. With 20 complications and a reversible double-faced case, the Grandmaster Chime is one of the most complex wristwatches ever produced. It is a museum-grade piece in every sense.
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Why the Met Gala Has Become the Watch World’s Biggest Night
The Met Gala has long been fashion’s biggest night, but the watch presence has grown sharply over the past five years. Brands now place pieces directly on attendees, vintage and museum-grade references appear regularly, and the conversation has shifted from “did anyone wear a watch” to “which references were worn and what does each one mean.”
For collectors, that is a meaningful shift. Watches at this level operate as art, history, and technical achievement all at once — exactly the criteria that define a Met Gala-worthy piece. The 2026 lineup, with vintage Cartiers, brand-new Omega releases, and grail-level AP and Patek references, was one of the most considered years yet.
Find Your Next Luxury Watch at Precision Watches
While few of us will ever need a $3 million Jacob & Co. for a red carpet, the brands worn at the Met Gala still sit at the heart of serious watch collecting. Names like Cartier, Omega, and Audemars Piguet led the night. Precision Watches is a family-owned authorized retailer located just outside Philadelphia in Lower Gwynedd, PA, carrying new Swiss luxury watches with in-house luxury watch repair by our certified watchmakers.
Visit our Lower Gwynedd showroom or browse our online selection to take a closer look at the brands that shaped the 2026 Met Gala. For more industry coverage and red carpet roundups, our luxury watch news section covers the latest from major events and releases.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Met Gala Watches
What watches were worn at the 2026 Met Gala?
The 2026 Met Gala featured a wide range of luxury watches including Rami Malek’s vintage Cartier Crash, Skepta’s gem-set Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Connor Storrie’s Omega Constellation Observatory, Stanley Tucci’s Breitling Premier, and Jay-Z’s Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, alongside pieces from Hublot, Jacob & Co., and other top luxury brands.
What was the most expensive watch at the 2026 Met Gala?
Dwayne Johnson’s Jacob & Co. Billionaire III, valued at approximately $3 million and set with 714 emerald-cut diamonds totaling nearly 130 carats, was the most expensive watch publicly identified on the carpet.
What was the most collectible watch at the 2026 Met Gala?
Rami Malek’s 1992 platinum Cartier Crash and Jay-Z’s Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300 are likely the most collector-significant watches of the night. The Crash is one of Cartier’s most coveted vintage references, and the Grandmaster Chime is among the most complex Patek Philippe wristwatches ever produced.
What was the theme of the 2026 Met Gala?
The 2026 Met Gala theme was “Costume Art,” inspired by the Met’s Costume Art exhibition. The theme drew direct inspiration from how fashion functions as art, which influenced the watch choices toward artful, sculptural, and historically significant references.
Which Omega was most worn at the 2026 Met Gala?
The new Omega Constellation Observatory was one of the night’s most-worn references, appearing on both Connor Storrie and Donal Finn. The Observatory is Omega’s first two-hand Master Chronometer and represents a significant technical milestone for the Constellation line.
