Oscars 2026: What We Noticed on the Red Carpet
The 98th Academy Awards leaned into personal style this year. Not louder, just more considered. The same applied to watches.
There was a clear shift away from obvious flex pieces. What showed up instead were watches with intent. Vintage, shaped cases, quiet complications and a few rule-breaking choices that felt natural rather than forced.
Here’s what stayed with us.
The Standout Detailing Of Cartier Crash Skeleton
When Kevin O’Leary wore the Cartier Crash Skeleton, a limited edition luxury watch it set the tone of quiet confidence. Shaped watches are having a moment again, but this is not about nostalgia. The Crash still feels disruptive decades later. The burgundy strap softened it just enough, but the watch did what it always does. It started conversations without trying too hard.
Bvlgari Turns Head At The Carpet With Its Finesse
Hudson Williams showed up in a Balenciaga suit with a Bvlgari Serpenti Tubogas watch on his wrist. This luxury watch was one of the more interesting shifts of the night. Jewellery-led watches are moving into menswear without being labelled as such. The Serpenti did not feel like a statement piece. It felt like a natural extension of personal style. Expect more of this.
Revival Of Vintage Cartier Watches
Director Ryan Coogler chose the Cartier Tank à Guichets. Digital displays, but done mechanically. No logo dominance, no dial clutter. Just apertures and a jumping hour complication. In a room full of cameras, this kind of restraint stands out more than anything else. Vintage Cartier watches continue to lead the conversation, especially when it comes from the Privé line.
Omega Speedmaster watches: Familiar, But Evolving
At the Vanity Fair after-party, Ethan Hawke wore the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional with a green dial. The Speedmaster watches are not new to the red carpet. What is changing is how they show up. New dial colours, subtle updates, same core identity. It still carries its history, but it is not stuck in it.
The Secret Of Jaeger-LeCoultre
Robert Pattinson was seen wearing a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch, the perpetual calendar in gold that has not officially been released.
This is where things get interesting. High complication watches are still relevant, but the way they are worn has changed. Less show, more discretion. You either know what it is, or you don’t.
Zenith: Precision Without Noise
Simu Liu chose a platinum Zenith with a clean black dial. Zenith watches continue to sit in that space where credibility matters more than hype. The watch featured a 39mm platinum case paired with a refined black dial. It stood out as a prestigious tribute to Zenith’s historic pursuit of accuracy making it the perfect fit for the evening.
Blancpain Villeret: Classic Still Holds
Jeremy Pope wore a Blancpain Villeret Quantième Complet with a white blazer. Moonphase, calendar, traditional layout. Nothing new, and that is the point. There is still a place for watches that do not respond to trends at all. The Villeret from Blancpain remains one of the cleanest expressions of that.
A few takeaways from the academy awards:
Shaped cases are back in focus. Vintage luxury watches worn by celebrities are not a phase, they’ve become a reference point for those in the know. Red carpet luxury watches with intricate complications are being worn more discreetly, and the line between jewellery and watches is softer than it has been in years.
Watches are being chosen, not added.
If you are starting to look at watches differently, you are not alone. The shift is already underway. At Art of Time, the focus has always been on pieces that hold their relevance beyond a single season. Whether that is a modern icon or a future classic, the idea is the same. Buy with intent.