Luxury Watches That Could Steal the MET Gala 2025 Red Carpet

The MET Gala returns as always, on the first Monday in May, with a theme that promises to set a new standard for storytelling through style. In 2025, the spotlight turns to “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” an exhibition inspired by Monica L. Miller’s acclaimed book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. Curated by Miller and the Costume Institute’s Andrew Bolton, the exhibition will trace the sartorial legacy of Black style, from the 19th century to today, spotlighting designers such as Virgil Abloh and Pharrell Williams.

This year’s co-chairs include Colman Domingo, (who never disappoints on the red carpet), Pharrell Williams, A$AP Rocky, and Lewis Hamilton, whose recent Vogue cover marks a defining moment in his fashion journey. Shot in a sharp Ferragamo suit and finished with Tiffany & Co, Hamilton’s feature ahead of the Gala underscores his evolution as both cultural icon and advocate. Reflecting on his role as co-chair, he shared: “It’s a real honour and privilege… Just getting to go to the Met Gala was something really special. I remember thinking it would be cool one day to be a host.”

@vogue Read Lewis Hamilton's interview here

Of course, presiding over it all is Anna Wintour. For nearly three decades, she’s shaped the event into fashion’s most anticipated night, with a guest list as curated as the exhibits themselves. Each name is hand-picked, each look scrutinised, making every detail count. Including what’s on the wrist.

Anna Wintour arriving at the 2024 Met Gala

In 2025, expect timepieces to hold their own against haute couture. Quietly powerful, meticulously chosen, and brimming with symbolism, watches are now an essential part of the red carpet equation.

At the MET Gala, luxury watches are far more than timekeepers; they’re statements of taste, heritage, and individuality. Whether glimpsed beneath a silk cuff or worn boldly over a glove, we’ll be watching closely to see if some of our favourite pieces from this year’s Watches and Wonders make their mark under the flash of the cameras. 

Lets take a look at what caught our attention last year...

Themed "The Garden of Time," celebrities showcased an array of exquisite timepieces that complemented their ensembles. Here are a few of our standout watches from the event.

Arguably the boldest timepiece of the evening, Usher’s Jacob & Co. Ruby Billionaire III didn’t hold back. Set with 714 baguette-cut rubies totalling 147.65 carats, the case and bracelet glowed in deep crimson from every angle. Beneath the surface, however, it’s not just about looks, the skeletonised JCAM39 movement features a hand-wound tourbillon with a 72-hour power reserve, housed in a case that’s as much sculpture as it is horology. Valued at over £4 million, it was a rare display of excess that still managed to feel considered. 

Wearing a 1993 platinum Cartier Crash, Sebastian Stan chose something with heritage and story, rather than sheer value or scale. Originally designed in the 1960s and inspired (as legend has it) by a melted watch from a car crash, the Crash is one of Cartier’s most elusive pieces. Stan’s vintage model stood out for its rarity and distinctive silhouette, with its asymmetrical case curving unpredictably around the wrist. Platinum adds weight, literally and figuratively, to what is already an eccentric icon. In a room full of maximalism, this felt quietly subversive.

Serena paired her Balenciaga gown with a sand gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, a variation that doesn’t appear often, even among Royal Oak collectors. The warm-toned case and bracelet offered a softer edge to the usual steel iconography, but the sharp tapisserie dial and exposed screws kept things unmistakably AP. It wasn’t just a stylistic match for her look, it reflected the strength and confidence Serena’s known for, dressed in subtle gold rather than overt flash.

Easily missed by the untrained eye, but unforgettable for those who noticed it. Jeremy Strong wore the Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari, a record-breaking watch at just 1.75mm thick. It’s not designed to impress with diamonds or heritage, this piece is about pushing boundaries. A collaboration with Ferrari, its ultra-thin case houses a manually wound movement that rethinks the limits of mechanical engineering. No dial in the traditional sense, no excess. Just pure innovation, reduced to its essence. 

A considered choice from Colman Domingo, who wore the IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 44 for his Met Gala debut in 2024. Powered by IWC’s in-house calibre with a full calendar and 7-day power reserve, it’s a serious piece for someone who understands detail. Now a co-chair of the 2025 Met Gala, Domingo’s appreciation for craftsmanship clearly runs deeper than fashion alone. His choice felt thoughtful, technical, timeless, and quietly assured. We’re looking forward not only to his look this year, but to seeing what he chooses to wear on his wrist.

Nicholas Galitzine kept things classic with a TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph, released to mark the model’s 60th anniversary. With its clean silver dial, black sub-registers, and vintage-inspired case profile, it nodded to the Carrera’s motorsport roots without leaning too nostalgic. It’s the sort of watch that doesn’t need to be loud, it speaks clearly through good proportions and heritage design. Paired with a sharp, tailored look, it felt quietly self-assured. Nothing overstated, just good taste, well judged.

So, what might we expect from fashion’s most spectacular evening?

With an impressive line-up of hosts and co-chairs, and, as ever, a guest list shrouded in secrecy, we’re expecting no shortage of statement timepieces at this year’s Met Gala. The theme, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," promises precision in every detail, and that includes what’s worn on the wrist. With a wave of exceptional releases fresh from this year’s Watches & Wonders, the red carpet is set to become a runway for horological storytelling. Whether it’s heritage classics, avant-garde innovation, or quietly powerful dress watches, we’re anticipating a showcase of true collectors’ pieces. Here are a few of our predictions ahead of fashion’s most exclusive night.

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Bushido Automata is priced at £730,000, reflecting its status as a pinnacle of haute horlogerie.

Pharrell Williams has become a fixture at the Met Gala, and his wristwear is always as considered as his styling. In 2021, he wore a Richard Mille RM 17-01 Tourbillon, bold, complex, and unmistakably Pharrell. His personal collection reads like a roll call of modern watchmaking: custom Audemars Piguets, diamond-set Chopard, and more avant-garde Richard Milles. As Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Creative Director, a bespoke LV timepiece, possibly a one-off created just for the night, or one of the new limited edition high watchmaking creations recently released, like the Tambour Bushido Automata, both a strong possibility. That said, his long-standing relationship with Chanel can’t be ignored. Pharrell has fronted campaigns and walked runways for the house, so don’t rule out a quiet flex in the form of the new Chanel J12 Bleu, minimal, graphic, and perfectly tailored to the theme. 

Colman Domingo made a lasting impression at the 2024 Met Gala, pairing a Willy Chavarria suit with the IWC Portugieser Perpetual Calendar 44 in 18k Armor Gold—a watch as refined and composed as his red carpet presence. Colman is no stranger to bold horological choices, just look to the 2025 Oscars, where he wore a custom Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch in 18k Canopus Gold, set with baguette-cut diamonds. While we’re hopeful he’ll return to IWC for the Met Gala this year, he’s not the only one to do so. At last year’s event, Kieran Culkin, Morgan Spector, and Alton Mason also wore pieces from the Portugieser collection. With IWC’s latest releases, including those tied to the upcoming F1 film, there’s every chance we’ll see one of the new editions grace the wrist of a major name on the night.

On the subject of F1, co-chair, Lewis Hamilton, a regular Met Gala attendee, is known for integrating meaningful elements into his fashion choices. As an IWC ambassador, he's frequently seen wearing their timepieces, including the Big Pilot and Portugieser models . It's likely he'll continue this trend, possibly selecting an IWC piece that resonates with the 2025 theme.

Jaeger-LeCoultre may not be the most frequent name on the Met Gala red carpet, but when it appears, it’s always with intent. In 2023, James McAvoy wore the Reverso Tribute Chronograph in pink gold, refined, dual-faced, and quietly brilliant, while his wife Lisa Liberati chose the ultra-delicate 101 Feuille. Back in 2013, Diane Kruger paired a vintage JLC secret watch with her Hugo Boss gown, showing the brand’s enduring appeal. This year, with a renewed interest in classic dress watches, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a modern Reverso or Master Ultra Thin Moon make a return, on the wrist of someone who lets the details do the talking.

Other timepieces we expect to see...

Rolex's latest release, the Land-Dweller, has already caught the attention of celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, who was spotted wearing it at CinemaCon . With its integrated bracelet and vintage-inspired design, the Land-Dweller is a blend of classic aesthetics and modern innovation . Given its recent debut and the buzz surrounding it, we wouldn't be surprised to see this model make its Met Gala debut on the wrist of a discerning attendee.

Bulgari's Serpenti watch has long been a favourite in the celebrity world, known for its unmistakable coiled form and seductive charm. This year, we’re hoping to see some of the maison’s most extravagant interpretations take to the red carpet, showpieces adorned with diamonds, enamelled scales, and high jewellery craftsmanship that blur the line between timepiece and sculpture.

There’s no doubt we’ll see Cartier sitting chic on a wrist or two at this year’s Met Gala. With the maison’s latest releases unveiled at Watches and Wonders 2025, we’re hopeful that the newly reimagined Panthère de Cartier, including the bold ‘Zebra’ edition with hand-applied lacquer and pavé-set diamonds, will make a red carpet debut. Equally striking is the new Cartier Tressage, a sculptural collection blending twisted gold forms with high jewellery finishing, designed to blur the line between timepiece and adornment. 

As the MET Gala 2025 approaches, keep your eyes on the wrists. With watches now cemented as red carpet mainstays, we anticipate bold choices that reflect not only fashion trends but individual identity. Time, after all, is the ultimate accessory. 

You can find out how to livestream this years Met Gala HERE