Words: Gentleman's Journal
When it comes to saving the day, surviving various assassination attempts and still managing to get the girl, it seems it’s all in the wrist. Many of our favourite on-screen superheroes (and even those baddies we love to hate) have ditched the utility belts of old in favour of some serious horological gadgetry.
The character of billionaire I.T. guru Tony Stark of the Iron Man franchise is certainly a fan of high-performance engineering; after all, the guy built a giant robotic suit in which to patrol far-flung corners of the Earth, fighting terrorists. As such, it stands to reason that his wrist candy should be appropriately techy, a truth that came to pass in the sequel. Played by Robert Downey Jnr, the character was initially styled with BVLGARI timepieces, before becoming associated with Jaeger-LeCoultre for the second and third film instalments. Iron Man 2 gives screen time to the Limited Edition platinum and ceramic version of the AMVOX3 Tourbillon GMT, with the third movie offering cinema-goers the AMVOX5 World Chronograph. Suitably high spec, with a dial fashioned after an Aston Martin grill, this model boasts a ceramic case which blends zirconium and yttrium oxides which have been exposed to extreme pressure and temperatures before being formed with special diamond-tipped tools.
Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX3 Tourbillon GMT
For the superhero who still favours the traditional secret identity, what better watch to represent the split personalities of a businessman by day and intrepid crime fighter by night than the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, with a case capable of rotating so that the dial crystal sits protected against the wrist. Billionaire Bruce Wayne (we see a pattern emerging…) has been a fan of the Reverso since his Val Kilmer incarnation. The watch made a return to the series with the introduction of Christian Bale to head up the Dark Knight trilogy. Batman Begins and The Dark Knight saw the inclusion of the Reverso Grande Taille, while The Dark Knight Rises inspired the watchmakers to create a special edition Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Tribute to 1931, featuring the Batman symbol.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Tribute
There are of course, other watch brands to look to if you’re planning a daring escapade in your tightest PVC; when he’s off duty, Superman actor Henry Cavill is known to favour a Breitling or two, often seen wearing the aptly titled Super Avenger. And when he’s not portraying sharp-clawed mutant Wolverine in the X-Men adventures, Aussie actor Hugh Jackman is slightly friendlier in his role as a Global Ambassador for Montblanc.
Breitling Super Avenger
Of course not all blockbuster action heroes are of the supernatural or comic book nature; if you’re looking for watch-wearing inspiration from a more human source, the bullet-dodging and corruption-beating stars of the Bourne series offer plenty of suggestions. In 2012’s Bourne Legacy, actor Jeremy Renner sported a Limited Edition IWC in order to play elite agent Aaron Cross, the Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph Edition TOP GUN (Ref. IW 379901). As you may expect from someone specialising in CIA black-op missions, the piece was of a suitably covert design; a black high-tech ceramic case concealed calibre 79230, offering a 68 hour power reserve. His predecessor, Matt Damon, wore a TAG Heuer Link Chrono in the 2002 hit The Bourne Identity, a replacement for the Seiko featured in Robert Ludlum’s original novel.
So next time you’re settling down to watch your favourite spy jump between buildings while being chased by a helicopter, or fancy wearing your underpants on the outside of your outfit, look to the watches worn by the big screen action stars and super heroes to ensure you’ll be right on time to make an entrance. (Cue explosion.)
By Sarah-Jane Adams
Sarah is a contributor to Watchfinder & Co.’s digital publication The Watch Magazine. Visitthewatchmagazine.comfor more on watches, andwatchfinder.co.ukto browse a selection of fine pre-owned watches.
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