Matt Damon is a Rolex guy. He’s had his trusty Explorer, specifically the 1016, by his side at the majority of public events. This version of the watch first came to be in the early 1960’s and stayed in production until 1989 and is generally the model most people think of when it comes to the Explorer and it was also a favourite of Ian Fleming.
At The Odyssey premiere last week, Damon strayed from the Explorer but kept it in the Rolex family, opting for the new Land-Dweller 40, which has become a quick hit with the Hollywood A-list since its launch last year.
But on screen, it’s a very different story for Damon. While there are stars like Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham who’s on-screen pieces reflect their personal taste, Damon keeps it low-key and authentic, a reflection of his dependably great status as an actor.
From vintage Tag Heuer’s to authentic Second World War watches, we have rounded up some of the best pieces Damon has worn in his films.
The Bourne Identity – Tag Heuer Link Chronograph
Jason Bourne may not have been able to remember anything but opening a safety deposit box and being greeted by a Tag Heuer Link Chronograph must have gone some way to ease his pain. A chunky 41mm piece, Damon wears it for most of the film as he fights across France to try and figure out who he is and where he comes from. The watch returned for The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum but was replaced with an all back Tag Heuer Formula One Chronograph for the final installment.
Ford v Ferrari – Heuer Carrera 7753SN
A vintage piece that may have come out after the film was set but the Carrera is such a terrific watch with a distinctive panda eyes dial, it’s hard to gripe too much. Damon plays car pioneer Carroll Shelby and the design seems to capture the thrill and the style of the 60’s racing scene the film is about. Christian Bale’s character, Ken Miles, is also seen wearing a Heuer, which is the Autavia and like Damon’s, was actually released following the time period of Ford v Ferrari.
The Rip – 5.11 Tactical
Something a little different. The 5.11 Tactical has long been a popular watch in film and TV – especially if you watched Sons of Anarchy – and is a go-to piece among military personnel for its durability and low price, but not the type of piece you generally associate with Damon or his longtime BFF, co-star and watch geek, Ben Affleck. But the watch perfectly fits their characters of hard-nosed narcotics cops in Miami.
The Martian – Hamilton Khaki Navy BeLOW ZERO
The watch would be reinvented by Hamilton for Tenet but was seen on-screen in its original form in the Oscar nominated sci-fi blockbuster, The Martian. Damon plays an astronaut stranded on Mars and his ever-reliable Hamilton is one of the few tools he has as he seeks to survive on the inhospitable planet. At 46mm and made out of robust materials like rubber, if you’re going to get trapped in space, the BeLOW ZERO is a good watch to have with you.
Oppenheimer – Hamilton Piping Rock
Christopher Nolan loves Hamilton and for his movie about the making of the atomic bomb, the famously precise film director had the watch brand source time accurate pieces from private collectors for the 1930’s/1940’s setting. In the film, Damon plays General Leslie Groves, who is seen wearing two watches, most prominently the Piping Rock, which dates back to the 1920’s with its quaint art Deco design. Damon also wears a standard Hamilton field watch which was manufactured for soldiers with over one million pieces supplied to the Allied Forces.
Like this? Christopher Nolan and Hamilton watches are an Odyssey through time
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