One of my favorite things about movies isn’t always the big moments. Sometimes it’s the small details—the ones that costume designers slip in quietly, knowing only a few people will notice.

Watches are often one of those details. They’re rarely the focus of the camera, but they can say a surprising amount about a character.

Take the Oscar-nominated racing drama F1: The Movie, starring Brad Pitt. Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes, wears a vintage IWC Ingenieur SL Ref. 1832, a sports watch from the 1970s designed by the legendary Gérald Genta. It’s a fitting choice. The Ingenieur was originally created as a robust, anti-magnetic watch for engineers and technical professionals, which makes it feel perfectly at home in the world of Formula 1 racing.

For the film, the watch was customized with a green dial—subtle enough not to steal the scene, but distinctive enough for watch enthusiasts to spot. It reflects Hayes’ character nicely: experienced, slightly old-school, and confident without trying too hard.

The younger driver in the film, played by Damson Idris, wears something very different: the IWC Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41. Bigger, flashier, and more modern, it mirrors the ambition and energy of a rising racing star. It’s a clever contrast that most viewers won’t consciously notice—but it’s there.

Another Oscar-nominated film uses a watch in a very different way. In Marty Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet, the watch is far less glamorous. His character, Marty Mauser, wears a modest vintage Elgin wristwatch from around 1949–1951. The mid-century piece features a gold-filled case, a brown leather strap, and a manually wound movement.

The filmmakers reportedly considered around fifteen watches before choosing the Elgin because it felt authentic to the period and to the character’s modest, hustling lifestyle. It’s a great reminder that not every watch in cinema needs to be a luxury icon. Sometimes a simple watch tells the story better.

And that’s really the beauty of watches in film. A vintage engineer’s watch can suggest experience. A bold modern chronograph can hint at ambition. And a humble mid century piece can quietly define an underdog.

Most audiences may never notice these details.

But for those of us who love watches, spotting them is half the fun.

PHOTO CREDITS 

IWC Ingenieur: press.iwc.com                                                                                                  Brad Pitt: media.formula1.com
IWC Pilot: press.iwc.com
F1 The Movie: media.formula1.com
Damson Idris: media.formula1.com
Marty Supreme: amazon.com
Elgin: gq-magazine.co.uk
Timothee: gq-magazine.co.uk