Nearly 30 years into his career, Jason Statham is still an action God. From his breakout role in The Transporter to recent films such as The Beekeeper and Shelter, Statham has been kicking and punching his way across the globe to become one of the most beloved and long-lasting stars of his generation. And he’s done it all with impeccable style. From his Kilgour piece in Snatch and the immaculately tailored suits in The Transporter to Chev Chelios’ tracksuit in Crank and the fine knitwear of Shelter, Statham always looks distinct.
And then there’s the watches. Statham’s taste in timepieces can be essentially split in two. On the one hand, he’s almost an unofficial ambassador for Panerai and IWC, wearing their chunky military-inspired pieces across a number of films. And then on the other, he’s got a fine eye for vintage Rolex grails that would be the envy of any collector. The combination matches his screen persona of rugged action man with a debonair sense of class and guile.
With Statham’s new film, Mutiny, coming out on Friday (August 21), we’ve taken a look at some of his best watches, both on-screen and off. Check them out below.
Rolex 5514 COMEX Submariner
A Rolex Submariner is generally par for the course for any Hollywood superstar but Statham’s, which he wore to this year’s Burberry fashion show, has something a little special about it. This watch was made for deep sea diving company Compagnie Maritime D’Experties in the 1970’s and with Statham being a Commonwealth Games diver, it’s only right it ends up on his wrist. Never released commercially, it’s one of the rarest Submariner models and on the rare chance they pop up on the secondary market, worth more than £50,000.
Panerai Luminor Chrono Daylight
Statham, just like his Expendables buddy Sylvester Stallone, likes a Panerai. He’s worn a lot both in his films and on the red carpet but this one, which has a starring role in Transporter 2 is hard to top. An update of the watch that helped bring Panerai to fame in the mid-1990’s, the Daylight is a bulky thing but with a subtler sense of style than some of their later models, especially when on the leather strap. A watch that’s almost as good as the bit in the film where Statham punches a man while wearing watermelons as boxing gloves.
IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition La Cumbre Volcano
When battling killer sharks on the open seas, a man needs a proper watch and for Statham in The Meg, that watch is an IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition La Cumbre Volcano. From his personal collection, the limited edition piece was only released in a quantity of 500 and does have a water resistance of 300 metres, making it more than up to the task of shark killing. The red accents on the rotating bezel are a particularly nice flourish.
Rolex Daytona Paul Newman
Easily one of the best watches ever and a landmark purchase for any collector, Statham knows his vintage Rolex’s and was seen wearing this quite a lot around a decade ago. While not as costly as Paul Newman’s actual Daytona which went for more than $17 million at auction, this is still a six figure watch.
Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph
A frequent ringside presence at big boxing bouts around the globe, for the mega fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, Statham brought out the big guns with an 18k rose gold Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph though it has also been seen on his Instagram. Very much an “in” watch of the moment, Statham is a big fan of Patek having been seen wearing a number of their models over the years but it’s hard to beat this sporty but glamorous piece.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Top Gun Ceretanium
For his first film with Guy Ritchie in 15 years, Statham again wore an IWC from his personal collection. An ultra-dark crime saga, the all black watch is the perfect fit for Statham’s near silent character, H. Bulky but sleek, the Top Gun has a strong aesthetic and given Statham is dressed entirely in black for much of the film, it blends into the undercover nature of the character.
Richard Mille RM 011 Felipe Massa
The only Richard Mille Statham has ever been seen wearing was in his 2013 actioner, Parker. Co-designed by and named after the Formula 1 driver, the watch appeared in the film through a partnership with the brand and can be reset at the simple push of a button. Though on the cheaper end of Richard Mille pieces, it will still cost around £150,000.
Panerai Luminor Bronzo
The biggest watch on this list and about the biggest watch you’ll find anywhere. Coming in at 47mm, it’s impossible not to notice the Panerai Luminor Bronzo on Statham’s wrist in The Expendables 2. Likely his own piece, it’s a dive watch with a military background that can still rock the red carpet. With a case made from bronze alloy, the watch changes and weathers with time meaning each piece eventually becomes completely unique.
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