The 15 Best Watches at the 2026 US Open (So Far)

Including Roger Federer in a hyped-up Rolex and Kaia Gerber with an elegant Cartier.Getty (l.), RolexThere’s something about a major tennis tournament that makes people want to bring out their very best watches. Don’t get us wrong. We’re watching the tennis at the US Open diligently. But if you came here for watches, you’re in the right place.From the court itself to the grandstands, one can always count on the Open to deliver some of the year’s best sightings, from whichever Rolex is currently on Federer’s wrist to the ultra-lightweight Richard Mille super-watches found both on- and off-court. Just one day into the open and we’ve already spotted pieces from Cartier, Patek Philippe, and a high-end independent. Our favorite thus far? The titanium-cased Porsche Design Chronograph 1 on Orlando Bloom’s wrist.We’re just getting started here, so be sure to check back in with us regularly over the next couple of weeks to see all the best watches from the 2026 US Open.Roger Federer’s Rolex Oyster Perpetual “Jubilee” DialTypically, the watches worn during actual play are the sci-fi-esque ultra-light ones. Not so for Roger Federer’s Oyster Perpetual ref. 134300, the 41mm version of this year’s colorful “Jubilee” dial model. Though its stainless steel case and matching bracelet certainly add a bit of heft to one’s wrist, this didn’t stop the world’s most strapping Rolex ambassador from keeping it on during a practice match against Lorenzo Musetti at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The piece celebrating 100 years of the brand’s flagship Oyster Perpetual model features one of the Crown’s most playful dials: a grid of multi-colored tiles spelling out the brand’s name. The model is one of the most hyped pieces of the year and since deliveries started going out over the past couple of months, it’s been spotted on everyone from Lionel Messi to Ed Sheeran. —Oren HartovJimmy Fallon’s Rolex Daytona “Paul Newman” ref. 6239Fallon out-Daytonas everyone else in the field with the beloved “Paul Newman” variant of the Daytona. Paul Newman-style Daytonas are known for their blocky lettering and the contrasting outer ring that runs around the edge of the dial. These specific versions of the chronograph watch are named after the actor because he wore and helped make them iconic in the ‘80s. The piece he owned sold for $17.8 million in 2017 and is still the most expensive vintage wristwatch ever sold at auction. Within the Paul Newman version of the Daytona, there are several variants: Fallon’s ref. 6239 is the one the actor wore and considered the “starter Newman.” —Cam WolfCarlos Alcaraz’s Rolex Daytona “Le Mans”Alcaraz wears one of the most coveted versions, short of a one-of-one, of the Daytona that Rolex has created this century. The “Le Mans” was made to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 24-hour endurance race, and Rolex produced editions in stainless steel as well as yellow and rose gold. Each was made for just one year. —CWTravis Scott’s Richard Mille RM 75-01 Flying TourbillonRichard Mille took two seemingly opposite inspirations for this watch: the look of the ocean and Gothic architecture. It sounds like it wouldn’t work, but it looks like something prized from a sunken treasure chest in the hidden city of Atlantis. —CWKaia Gerber’s Panthère de CartierGetty (l.), CartierKaia Gerber showed up in proper form: black dress, matching shades, and yellow gold Panthère de Cartier in its “mini” size. Launched as a watch collection in the early 1980s, the origins of the panther as a Cartier mascot actually extends all the way back to the 1910s. However, if you can’t have an actual panther in your walk-in closet, certainly a lovely gold dress watch on a matching multi-link bracelet will do. A popular choice amongst the “in” crowd—Keith Richards, Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, etc.—the Panthère has of late also been spotted on the wrists of Taylor Swift and actor David Jonsson. —OHOrlando Bloom’s Porsche Design Chronograph 1Porsche enthusiast and Porsche Design brand ambassador Orlando Bloom chose a killer Chronograph One to rock Sunday night during the tourney’s opening day. The actor opted for the recently released titanium-cased, black-dialed 1975 Limited Edition. Though the collection is famous for featuring the world’s first black-cased watch, newer executions have featured metals other than stainless steel and dial colors other than black. Paired to a comfortable bracelet and powered by the automatic, COSC-certified Porsche Design calibre WERK 01.140, the modern Chronograph 1 is lightweight, versatile, and cool-looking. That’s everything you could possibly want out of a driver’s watch. —OHCarl Radke’s Rolex Submariner “Smurf”Who knew that Radke, from my favorite reality show Summer House, had excellent taste in timepieces? While the green Submariners—like the Kermit and Hulk—grab plenty of attention, the all-blue “Smurf” brings just as much color and fun to the wrist. —CWAdam Pally’s Rolex Daytona ref. 16518Like many US Opens before it, this one has been dominated by Rolex’s load-bearing Daytona. Each one is distinct and special in its own way. Pally’s distinguishes itself by being the only one to come on a leather strap. —CWDonna Vekić’s F.P. Journe ÉléganteAnytime a watch can be worn during play, it makes it that much cooler. Not that the Élégante needs much help in that department. The quartz watch works in a particularly neat way. Take it off your wrist and drop it on the desk, table, whatever, and it actually stops ticking, but it zooms back into action, and the hands fly into the correct position when you pick it back up. Good news for this piece, especially. It deserves a rest after getting in a workout on the court. —CWLindsey Vonn’s Rolex Daytona ref. 116505 “Rainbow”NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 31: Lindsey Vonn - detail of her Rolex watch - attends day two of the 2026 US Open, a Grand Slam tennis tournament held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2026 in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York City, NY. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/GC Images)Jean CatuffeThis year’s US Open really has it all when it comes to Daytonas: unique options on leather straps, highly coveted modern models, grail vintage pieces, and Vonn’s blinding “Rainbow” version. —CWQueen Latifah’s Rolex Submariner ref. 116613LBLatifah wears a yassified version of Radke’s “Smurf.” Her version combines the stainless steel Submariner with yellow gold to make it fit for a queen. —CWMarta Kostyuk’s Patek Philippe Aquanaut ref. 5067Ukrainian player Marta Kostyuk may be just 24, but her taste in watches is well beyond her years. Check out the Aquanaut she wore during play this week. The ref. 5067A-014 features a 36.3mm stainless steel case, a bezel fitted with 46 diamonds, an embossed blue dial with red-fringed cardinal indices, a luminous sword handset, a date window at 3 o’clock, and Patek Philippe’s cal. E23-250 S C quartz movement. While this reference is typically seen on the Nautilus collection’s signature rubber strap, it appears that Kostyuk chose to wear it on some kind of fabric strap. —OHDuncan Robinson’s Tudor Black Bay 58 GMTDuncan Robinson: man of the people. While many of his famous cohorts at the Open opted for big-brother brand Rolex, Robinson wore the “Coke” version of the Black Bay GMT with a black-and-red bezel. The watch is entry-level luxury at $5,275, and basically a bargain relative to the other celebrity-worn pieces in the suite section of Arthur Ashe Stadium. —CWRussell Wilson’s Rolex Day-Date ref. 228238Wilson wore one of the most classic and elegant watches in the world: a solid yellow-gold Day-Date with Roman numerals and the brand’s recognizable “President” bracelet. —CWGrant Hill’s Rolex Daytona ref. 116520You thought we were done with the Daytonas? Not in the world Grant Hill’s living in, buddy. After all the exoticism of Fallon, Alcaraz, and Vonn’s pieces, consider Hill’s classic stainless steel version with a black dial as a palate cleanser. —CWOren Hartov is a GQ contributor covering all things horological. He’s written extensively about celebrity watch culture, waxed poetic about the GMT complication, and railed against case sizes larger than 40mm. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music and a military veteran, he can be found playing the guitar, ... Read More