By Rifan Muazin 
The red carpet has long been a theater for sartorial excellence, but in recent years, the spotlight has shifted from the drape of a lapel to the glint of a wrist. At last night’s Actor Awards, presented by SAG-AFTRA, the traditional boundaries of black-tie attire were not just pushed—they were entirely redrawn. While the classic tuxedo remains the foundational uniform of Hollywood’s elite, the timepieces paired with them have evolved into a diverse landscape of horological expression. From the high-complication mastery of Swiss legends to the obscure charm of vintage Parisian icons, the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards proved that when it comes to a formal watch, the only rule is that there are no rules.
This shift marks a significant departure from the era when a simple, thin gold dress watch on a black leather strap was the only acceptable accompaniment to a dinner jacket. Today’s stars are increasingly savvy collectors, using their platform to showcase independent watchmakers, rare vintage finds, and bold "jewelry" watches that defy gender norms. The evening was a masterclass in this "anything goes" philosophy, anchored by heavyweights like Michael B. Jordan and style icons like Tyler, the Creator, whose choices reflected a deep appreciation for both the aesthetic and the mechanics of fine watchmaking.
Tyler, the Creator, a man who has single-handedly revitalized interest in mid-century Cartier, once again stole the show with a vintage Cartier Vendome. Tyler’s status as a "god-tier" collector is well-documented, but his choice of the Vendome highlights a specific trend toward smaller, more elegant silhouettes. The Vendome, named after the iconic Place Vendôme in Paris, features a distinctive round case with stepped lugs that integrate seamlessly into the strap. Tyler’s specimen, rendered in yellow gold, boasted the hallmarks of the French maison: a crisp white dial with a railroad minute track, Roman numerals, and the signature blued steel sword hands. In an industry often obsessed with "bigger is better," Tyler’s preference for a diminutive, historically significant piece serves as a reminder that true style often lies in restraint.
In contrast to Tyler’s vintage minimalism, Michael B. Jordan—who took home the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his work in Sinners—opted for a piece that blurred the lines between horology and high jewelry. Jordan wore a vintage Piaget Limelight, a watch that epitomizes the brand’s dual heritage as both a "jeweler of watchmakers" and a "watchmaker of jewelers." The piece featured a striking checkered black and silver dial, a red dauphine handset that provided a sharp pop of color, and a case lavishly set with diamonds. Piaget has seen a massive resurgence on the red carpet lately, with stars like The Weeknd and Usher gravitating toward the brand’s 1970s-inspired glamour. Jordan’s choice was a victory lap in watch form, proving that a diamond-set case can be just as masculine as a rugged diver when styled with the right level of confidence.
The night also saw a significant nod to the "new guard" of high horology, specifically the meteoric rise of Louis Vuitton’s watchmaking division. Jeremy Allen White, the star of The Bear, showcased his "watch guy" credentials by wearing a Louis Vuitton Monterey. This watch is a modern reincarnation of a 1980s design by the legendary Italian architect and designer Gae Aulenti. The original Monterey was a quirky, avant-garde piece that signaled LV’s early ambitions in the watch world. The version worn by White, however, is a testament to the brand’s current prowess under the direction of Jean Arnault. Featuring a time-only enamel dial housed within a beautiful gold case, the Monterey is a masterclass in "quiet luxury" with a postmodern twist. For White, the choice was poetic; as his character in The Bear often reminds us, "Every Second Counts," and there are few better ways to track those seconds than with a piece of limited-edition art.
Similarly, 20-year-old Miles Caton represented the youngest generation of collectors with a gold Louis Vuitton Tambour. The Tambour, characterized by its drum-shaped case and integrated bracelet, was reintroduced in 2023 with a focus on high-end finishing and a new micro-rotor movement from the esteemed La Fabrique du Temps workshop. Caton, who wore a steel version of the same watch to the BAFTAs just a week prior, chose the gold iteration for the SAG Awards, highlighting the versatility of the design. The integrated bracelet trend continues to dominate the market, and the Tambour is a sophisticated alternative to the more ubiquitous sports watches often seen on the red carpet.
For those who prefer their watches to reveal their inner workings, Tyler James Williams provided the ultimate distraction with his Blancpain Villeret Squelette 8 Jours. Skeletonization is a difficult art to master, as it requires removing as much metal as possible from the movement without compromising its structural integrity. The Caliber 1333SQ inside Williams’ Blancpain is a marvel of hand-engraving and finishing, offering an eight-day power reserve. By wearing a skeletonized watch with a formal suit, Williams highlighted the mechanical complexity of the piece, turning his wrist into a window into the world of traditional Swiss craftsmanship.
The theme of "anything goes" was perhaps best exemplified by Connor Storrie, the star of Heated Rivalry, who wore a diamond-studded cocktail watch from Tiffany & Co. The watch featured an 18K white gold baignoire-like (bathtub-shaped) case set with round diamonds. Traditionally, cocktail watches were marketed toward women, but Storrie’s choice reflects a growing movement among male celebrities to embrace jewelry-leaning timepieces. It was an unconventional, daring choice that paid off, proving that elegance is not gendered.
Timothée Chalamet, a perennial favorite of style critics, remained loyal to his Urban Jürgensen UJ-2. Chalamet’s choice is particularly notable because Urban Jürgensen is an independent brand that appeals to the most discerning of collectors. The UJ-2 features a natural escapement—a rare and technically challenging mechanism designed to improve chronometric precision—and a stunning guilloché dial. In a sea of brand ambassadors wearing whatever they are paid to promote, Chalamet’s consistent wear of an independent, high-horology piece suggests a genuine personal passion for the craft.
The more "ostentatious" side of the evening was handled by Matthew Rhys, who wore a Hublot Spirit of Big Bang in King Gold. The 42mm tonneau-shaped case is made from Hublot’s proprietary alloy, which mixes gold with platinum to create a deeper, more fade-resistant red hue. It is a bold, sporty chronograph that stands in stark contrast to the understated elegance of his famous role as a Soviet spy in The Americans. Rhys’ choice was a reminder that the SAG Awards are a celebration, and sometimes a celebration calls for a watch that demands to be seen.
On the traditional end of the spectrum, Adam Scott and Delroy Lindo reminded the audience of the enduring power of the classic dress watch. Scott wore a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Monoface in pink gold. The Reverso, created in 1931 for British army officers playing polo in India, is one of the few sports watches that has transitioned into a quintessential dress watch. Its Art Deco lines and reversible case make it a "watchmaker’s watch," and Scott’s choice was a perfect match for his sophisticated persona. Delroy Lindo, meanwhile, opted for an Omega De Ville Prestige. While the 41mm stainless steel watch is a staple of the Omega catalog, Lindo’s version featured a bold burgundy dial and matching leather strap. It was a subtle but effective way to inject color into a black-tie ensemble without breaking the formal code.
Finally, Ethan Hawke and Adam Brody provided two of the most interesting "deep cuts" of the night. Hawke wore a platinum Omega Constellation Globemaster with an annual calendar complication. The "pie-pan" dial is a direct reference to the vintage Constellations of the 1950s, but the movement inside is a Master Chronometer certified by METAS, representing the pinnacle of modern anti-magnetic technology. Brody, on the other hand, wore the Cartier Tank à Guichet. This is a "digital" watch in the vintage sense, using jump-hour and wandering-minute discs seen through small windows (guichets) in a solid metal face rather than traditional hands. It is one of the rarest and most sought-after Cartier designs, and its appearance on Brody’s wrist—paired with a yellow silk shirt—was a highlight for horological enthusiasts everywhere.
In conclusion, the 2025 SAG Awards demonstrated that the red carpet has become the ultimate showroom for the diversity of modern watchmaking. Whether it was the technical rigor of a Blancpain skeleton, the independent spirit of an Urban Jürgensen, or the archival rarity of a Cartier jump-hour, the night’s timepieces told a story of individual taste over corporate uniformity. As celebrities continue to deepen their knowledge of horology, the "black-tie watch" will only continue to evolve, proving that as long as it tells time and looks good, the wrist is the most important canvas an actor has.