It’s no secret that Russell Crowe is a big time watch enthusiast. The pieces on his wrist often stray from some of the best known brands such as Rolex and Audemars Piguet (not that he doesn’t have a lot of love for the Swiss giants) with the Gladiator actor seen wearing the likes of Parmigiani Fleurier and William Wood, while he also likes fashion watches from iconic companies such as Chanel. But, what is something of a little secret (or was), is Crowe’s TikTok account largely dedicated to reviewing watches.
In the videos the New Zealander has uploaded so far, it is clear that Crowe is an enthusiastic and engaged member of the watch community. He is seen to be up to date with new releases and while he is a great actor, even Crowe couldn’t feign the level of passion and excitement he has for the watches he is talking about.
The videos are especially exciting for giving a glimpse into Crowe’s personal collection. While he sold off nearly 30 pieces around a decade ago after his divorce, it’s clear that he can still boast a collection that can go toe-to-toe with anybody’s. The videos establish some common themes such as Crowe liking blue dials, generally classic designs and pieces that are just that little bit bigger than average.
One of the newer watches in his collection is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Geographic, a beautifully subtle rectangular piece with an open complication. Less bulky and showy than many of their models, in his TikTok analysis, Crowe admits that he wears the watch often: “If I’ve been having people over for dinner or going out, a lot of the time I reach for this one.”
Being an actor – and one who could have played James Bond if the timing had worked out right – it only seems appropriate that Crowe owns the special anniversary version of the Seamaster that Omega made to celebrate 60 years of 007 on screen. The watch itself pays tribute to various Bond Omegas from over the years, most notably the blue dial from the 1995 GoldenEye edition. For Crowe, it’s his go-to tennis watch as he jokes: “I wanted my tennis doubles partner and I to have the physiological edge of wearing matching watches.”
As mentioned earlier, Crowe has singular taste and looks beyond the biggest brand names, which leads us to Otsuka Lotec. A Japanese brand who have been making waves over the last couple of years with their deconstructed avant-garde designs which tell the time in some truly unusual ways, including a gauge. An early adopter of the brand, Crowe admits in his review that he bagged his pieces second-hand, which is apparently a rarity for him.
Despite being a Kiwi, Crowe also has love for British watchmaking by showing a deep passion for William Wood. Often featuring firefighting themes as well as recycled firefighter equipment, the unique brand has featured in Crowe’s films while he also owns a Triumph Chronograph Bronze Jubilee, a watch created to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II ascending to the throne.
Of course, like any good aficionado, Crowe still adores the classics. On his TikTok, you can find a Rolex Sky-Dweller, a Patek Philippe Nautilus and a Rolex 1908. The closest he comes to saying he has a favourite watch is when talking about the Tudor Black Bay Chrono Flamingo Blue, which epitomises the designs he seems to go for and his love of light blue, as he says it is usually his daily wear.
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