Patrick Stewart Was a Serious Watch Guy. Here Are 5 of the Late Hollywood Legend's Best.

His First RolexMirrorpixPerhaps the most meaningful watch in Stewart's story is one for which we don't have an exact reference. Long before he became one of Hollywood's most recognizable actors, Stewart was given a rather unexpected piece of career advice by the actress Eva Marie Saint. She advised him that appearances mattered, and that an expensive watch might help convince producers he was already a successful actor. So, she took him to a Beverly Hills jeweller, where he picked out a Rolex. The only problem? It cost him his entire savings. “I was eating spaghetti and boiled potatoes for months after that!” he recalled in a 2019 interview with the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie.It's touching anecdote given Stewart's modest upbringing. Having grown up in poverty, he admitted that it took him years to feel comfortable spending money on beautiful things. But eventually, he came to realize there was nothing wrong with enjoying the rewards of his success.Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80 to the 2017 Canadian Grand PrixDan IstiteneOne of Stewart's most entertaining watch moments came at the 2017 Canadian Grand Prix, when he joined Daniel Ricciardo on the podium and celebrated the Australian driver's third-place finish by drinking champagne from his racing boot. Yes, really.And while most people were understandably distracted by the sight of Captain Picard downing champagne from a sweaty shoe, there was a rather lovely watch on his wrist, a Tissot Le Locle Powermatic 80. The reasonably priced Swiss automatic features a silver guilloché dial, Roman numerals, a black leather strap, and an impressive 80-hour power reserve. Proof that even a relatively affordable dress watch can look the part.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowCartier Tank in a1990 Portrait SessionAaron RapoportLong before his appearances at watchmaking galas, Stewart was already making a convincing case for the understated dress watch. In this archival portrait, the actor wears a small, gold-tone, rectangular timepiece, seemingly a Cartier Tank, on a dark leather strap. Paired with a pale linen-style suit and a knitted white top, it's a particularly handsome combination.First introduced in 1917, the Cartier Tank has become one of watchmaking's most enduring designs, worn by everyone from Andy Warhol to Muhammad Ali. Its appeal lies in its simplicity: a rectangular case, elegant proportions, and a design that has barely needed changing in more than a century. And judging by this photograph, Stewart understood the appeal of a good dress watch long before his later affection for IWC became public knowledge.IWC Portofino Automatic to the 2018 Academy AwardsGetty/IWCWhen it came to dressing for the red carpet, Stewart understood the appeal of keeping things classic. At the 90th Academy Awards in 2018, he opted for an IWC Portofino Automatic, reference IW356504, a rather beautiful dress watch that proved you don't need an enormous, diamond-covered timepiece to make an impression. Housed in a 40mm case of 18-carat rose gold, the watch features a silver-plated dial, slim gold hour markers, and a discreet date window at three o'clock. It's finished with a dark brown alligator leather strap and powered by an automatic movement. There's nothing particularly flashy about it, which is precisely what makes it so appealing.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowIWC Portugieser Chronograph Classic at the 2017 SIHH GalaDavid M. BenettBy 2017, Stewart's appreciation for fine watchmaking had brought him into the company of some of the industry's most celebrated names. That January, he attended IWC Schaffhausen's Decoding the Beauty of Time gala in Geneva alongside his wife, Sunny Ozell, sporting a rather handsome IWC Portugieser Chronograph Classic.First introduced in 2013, the reference 3904 is a particularly elegant piece of watchmaking. Featuring a 42mm case, distinctive Arabic numerals, and a railway-track minute scale, it's a slightly sportier proposition than the Portofino. Inside sits IWC's automatic calibre 89361, complete with a flyback chronograph function and an impressive 68-hour power reserve. The evening celebrated the Swiss manufacturer's renewed Da Vinci collection, but Stewart's choice of wristwear showcased another of IWC's most recognizable designs. And given that he once named IWC as his favorite watchmaker, it's hardly surprising that he had such good taste.