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A great television costume can tell you who a character is before they say a word. A watch can do the same thing. The right one can signal wealth, status, taste, ambition, bravado or professionalism—and sometimes reveal the difference between old money and new, or between someone who has arrived and someone trying very hard to look as though he has.
That is what makes a television watch iconic: not simply its price or pedigree, but the way it becomes memorable-or even inseparable from the character wearing it. From Tony Soprano’s gold Rolex Day-Date to Harvey Specter’s six-figure Patek Philippe, these are 10 of the most memorable, character-defining watches seen on television.
1. Rolex Day-Date ref. 18238 – Tony Soprano, The Sopranos
Tony Soprano’s yellow-gold Rolex Day-Date ref. 18238 is almost part of the character’s uniform. Worn by James Gandolfini throughout The Sopranos, the 36mm “President” combines a champagne dial, fluted bezel and matching gold bracelet. The reference is a particularly fitting choice: the 18238 is a classic 1980s-and-’90s Day-Date, with the double-quickset Caliber 3155, but it retains the unmistakable visual language that made the Day-Date such a potent status symbol.
On Tony, the watch is conspicuous without being fashionable. It is expensive, traditional and unmistakably powerful, much like the character himself. Along with his pinky ring and open-collar shirts, the Day-Date became one of television’s most recognizable expressions of mob-boss authority.
Looking for a similar watch that channels Tony Soprano’s boss energy? Explore our collection of gold Rolex Day-Date watches and find a timepiece with that same unmistakable presence.
2. OMEGA Seamaster De Ville ref. 166.020 — Don Draper, Mad Men
Don Draper wears several watches throughout Mad Men, but his black-dial OMEGA Seamaster De Ville ref. 166.020 becomes one of his defining pieces in the later seasons. The 34mm vintage automatic is slim and restrained, with the kind of clean mid-century proportions that look at home beneath a narrow shirt cuff rather than calling attention to themselves.
That restraint is exactly why it works. The watch feels like a period piece without looking like a costume prop, and its understated character suits his increasingly pared-down style. For anyone searching for the Don Draper watch from Mad Men, this OMEGA is one of the most recognizable answers—and a reminder that a memorable television watch doesn’t have to be flashy.
If Mr. Draper’s refined mid-century style is more your speed, you can capture the same understated elegance with a watch from our OMEGA De Ville collection.
3. Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classique — Don Draper, Mad Men
Don Draper gets two spots here because few television characters have had their watches so closely tied to their identity, and because his two most memorable pieces tell very different stories. His yellow-gold Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classique, introduced in Season 2, is the more overtly symbolic choice. Its rectangular Art Deco case flips over on its chassis, a design originally created in 1931 to protect the crystal during polo.
Draper’s Reverso is paired with a brown alligator-leather strap, and Betty has his initials engraved on the reverse. It is a beautiful watch even without the symbolism, but the symbolism is hard to miss: a watch with two sides, worn by a man living under two identities, Don Draper and Dick Whitman. It may be a little heavy-handed, but it is also an unusually effective example of a watch becoming part of the storytelling.
The Reverso remains one of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s most distinctive designs, and our collection of Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso watches makes it easy to find a watch with that same Art Deco character.
4. Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 5004P-021 – Harvey Specter, Suits
Harvey Specter’s platinum Patek Philippe ref. 5004P-021 is an appropriately formidable choice for Manhattan’s most self-assured corporate lawyer. Worn by Gabriel Macht in Season 1, the 36.7mm Patek combines a split-seconds chronograph with a perpetual calendar, moon phase, and leap-year indication in an elegant platinum case. It is a remarkably complicated watch, but its restrained size and precious metal case keep the visual effect relatively discreet.
That is part of what makes it work for Harvey. The real-world reference is enormously expensive, yet recognizable mainly to people who know exactly what they are looking at. Even though prop masters used a screen replica for production, the intended character flex remains clear: It establishes a lawyer who demands the very best without needing to explain why it is the best. The Patek appeared only briefly, but that single appearance became part of the myth built around Harvey Specter’s impeccable taste.
This watch might be a tough one to get your hands on, but if you want to make a statement like Harvey Specter, a similar watch in our Patek Philippe watch collection will definitely stand out in a crowd.
5. IWC Portugieser Chronograph ref. 3714 — Frank Underwood, House of Cards
Frank Underwood wears several IWC watches in House of Cards, but the Portugieser Chronograph ref. 3714 suits him particularly well. The stainless-steel watch’s large, clean dial, applied markers and subdial layout give it a distinctly classical look, while the chronograph keeps it from feeling like a purely formal dress watch. The 3714’s roughly 41mm case was also substantial without being ostentatious.
The combination of polish and restraint is useful shorthand for Underwood. He wants to look disciplined, respectable and institutional rather than flashy. The Portugieser communicates money and taste to someone paying attention, but it doesn’t announce itself across the room. Like Underwood, it looks controlled and civilized at first glance.
Understated power is part of the Portugieser’s appeal. Browse our IWC Portugieser collection for watches that bring together the same polished design and restrained presence.
6. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph – Bobby Axelrod, Billions
Bobby “Axe” Axelrod, played by Damian Lewis, repeatedly wears a blue-dial Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 25860ST in Billions. The watch combines Gérald Genta’s unmistakable octagonal case and integrated bracelet with the added visual complexity of a chronograph, while its stainless-steel construction keeps it firmly in the luxury-sports-watch category rather than traditional dress-watch territory.
This distinction matters for Axe. A precious-metal Patek would communicate one kind of wealth; the Royal Oak communicates another. It is expensive and unmistakably insider-oriented, but it can be worn with casual clothes without looking out of place. For a hedge-fund billionaire who doesn’t need to resemble old Wall Street establishment money, it is a particularly apt choice.
Bold, recognizable and unmistakably luxurious, the Royal Oak has plenty in common with Bobby Axelrod’s approach to watches. See what’s available in our Audemars Piguet Royal Oak collection.
7. Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” 126710BLRO – Greg Hirsch, Succession
Worn by Nicholas Braun, Cousin Greg’s watch journey in Succession begins with a famously awkward, overpriced Rolex Submariner purchase in Season 3. By the final season, however, Greg Hirsch graduates to a Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” ref. 126710BLRO. The stainless-steel GMT-Master II pairs its red-and-blue Cerachrom bezel with a Jubilee bracelet, making it instantly recognizable while adding a little more visual distinction than the Submariner Greg had previously been associated with.
The watch works because Greg is still learning what the people around him already know. A GMT-Master II on a Jubilee bracelet is prestigious, scarce and genuinely desirable to watch enthusiasts, but it is also recognizable as a symbol of success to almost anyone who recognizes a Rolex. It is exactly the sort of watch an aspirational outsider would choose as he becomes more comfortable with conspicuous wealth.
If you’re drawn to Greg Hirsch’s Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi,” you can find a similar combination of unmistakable Rolex style and everyday versatility in our Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” collection.
8. Rolex Submariner “Smurf” 116619LB – Cameron Sullivan, The White Lotus
Cameron Sullivan, played by Theo James, wears the Rolex Submariner “Smurf” ref. 116619LB in The White Lotus. The reference is notable because the blue dial and blue Cerachrom bezel are paired with a full white-gold case and bracelet. It was the first Submariner to use white gold for both, and its vivid color scheme makes it considerably more conspicuous than a conventional black-dial Submariner.
This is why it is an inspired piece of character building. Cameron’s watch looks like a sporty vacation watch until you notice what it is made of. It announces money without using yellow gold, which is precisely the sort of distinction a status-conscious character like Cameron would appreciate.
A white-gold “Smurf” may be one of the more difficult Submariners to find, but if you like Cameron Sullivan’s combination of sporty style and unmistakable luxury, you’ll find plenty of ways to get the look in our Rolex Submariner collection.
9. Cartier Tank Louis – Daphne Sullivan, The White Lotus
Daphne Sullivan, played by Meghann Fahy, wears a yellow-gold Cartier Tank Louis ref. WGTA0343 in The White Lotus. Its small rectangular case, Roman-numeral dial and leather strap provide a sharp contrast with Cameron’s substantial white-gold Submariner. The Tank’s design, meanwhile, has more than a century of history behind it, making the watch feel established rather than attention-seeking.
That contrast is the point. Daphne’s watch does not need to advertise itself. It suggests confidence, polish and a familiarity with luxury that feels almost effortless. Placed beside Cameron’s Smurf, it also becomes a quiet visual shorthand for the different ways the two characters express wealth.
If Daphne Sullivan’s understated approach to luxury is more your style, a Cartier Tank Louis offers the same timeless elegance. Explore our Cartier Tank Louis collection to find a similar watch with plenty of character of its own.
10. Rolex Daytona “Zenith” 16520 – Eddie Horniman, The Gentlemen
Eddie Horniman, played by Theo James, wears a white-dial Rolex Daytona ref. 16520 in The Gentlemen. Produced from 1988 to 2000, the 16520 was Rolex’s first automatic Daytona and used Caliber 4030, based on Zenith’s El Primero. Its stainless-steel case, black subdials and history make it collectible without having the visual presence of a modern precious-metal luxury watch.
This is what makes it a strong fit for Eddie, an aristocrat increasingly entangled in the criminal world. The watch suggests taste, money and discretion rather than the obvious flash of a modern trophy watch. It also gives the character a piece with genuine enthusiast credibility: anyone who knows watches will recognize the significance of the “Zenith Daytona,” while everyone else simply sees a handsome steel Rolex.
The original “Zenith Daytona” is a highly collectible piece, but you don’t need a ref. 16520 to get the same combination of sportiness, history and unmistakable Rolex appeal. Take a look at our Rolex Daytona collection for a similar watch with plenty of presence on the wrist.
Quick Summary: 10 Most Iconic Watches Seen on TV
| Show | Character | Actor | Watch Brand & Model | Reference Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sopranos | Tony Soprano | James Gandolfini | Rolex Day-Date “President” | 18238 |
| Mad Men | Don Draper | Jon Hamm | Omega Seamaster De Ville | 166.020 |
| Mad Men | Don Draper | Jon Hamm | Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso | Classique / Grande Taille |
| Suits | Harvey Specter | Gabriel Macht | Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph | 5004P-021 |
| House of Cards | Frank Underwood | Kevin Spacey | IWC Portugieser Chronograph | 3714 |
| Billions | Bobby Axelrod | Damian Lewis | Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph | 25860ST |
| Succession | Greg Hirsch | Nicholas Braun | Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” | 126710BLRO |
| The White Lotus | Cameron Sullivan | Theo James | Rolex Submariner “Smurf” | 116619LB |
| The White Lotus | Daphne Sullivan | Meghann Fahy | Cartier Tank Louis | WGTA0343 |
| The Gentlemen | Eddie Horniman | Theo James | Rolex Daytona “Zenith” | 16520 |
Want to know more? Explore our deep dives into the Top 20 Celebrity Watches and check out our comprehensive Guide to Rolex Reference Numbers.
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