Austin Butler Just Wore a Pyschotically Good Watch
StyleBreitling’s Chronomat GMT is a luxurious take on an old tool watch staple.By Oren HartovDecember 14, 2024Photographs courtesy of Breitling; Collage: Gabe ConteSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAustin Butler is officially set to play Patrick Batman in the anticipated remake of 2000’s American Psycho. While the 1980s setting of the original film saw Christian Bale rocking an imitation Rolex Datejust—it was actually a Seiko 5, as Rolex, understandably, didn’t care to associate with a murdering psychopath—we’ve yet to see what kind of horological goods the prop master will strap to Butler’s wrist in the upcoming Luca Guadagnino version. Regardless, not long after the announcement, Butler did wear an awesome travel watch, the Breitling Chronomat GMT 40.Spotted on his wrist at the SF Film Awards, the Chronomat GMT 40 is perhaps not the first watch that comes to mind when one conjures up images of American Psychos or the Saint-Imier-based brand. Breitling is famous for its Navitimer pilot’s watch and Emergency tool watch—which comes with a beacon that will alert search and rescue teams to your location—the company has long produced timepieces for aviation workers. But the Chronomat GMT 40, with its tubular-link bracelet, rider tab bezel, heavy onion crown, and stark black dial with GMT indicator, is precisely the type of hard-wearing, good-looking watch that a pilot or an explorer might wear, albeit perhaps in slightly fancier form.Miikka Skaffari/Courtesy of BreitlingBreitling Chronomat Automatic GMT 40 with black dial_Ref. A32398101B1A1_RGBCourtesy of BreitlingThe Chronomat line has been around for quite a while. The product family, launched during the World War II, includes all sorts of cool chronographs, some of which were cased in gold. Later, in the late 1960s, the collection expanded into references such as the 1808, an automatic, oversized dual-register chrono with a multi-scale dial, date window, and left-hand crown. The contemporary versions, which resemble Gérald Genta’s most famous designs, are merely the latest in a long line of cool experimental tool watches that each borrow a bit from the design language of the era in which they debuted. If you’re a globe-trotting film star who needs to walk a red carpet on a Monday and be on set Tuesday morning, you might indeed choose something like the Chronomat GMT 40, which includes both a GMT movement as well as a dive bezel to time discrete events.Of course, this is far from Butler’s first horological rodeo: In August, he wore a Chronomat with a cool “panda” dial while passing through JFK; before that, he’s been spotted with beautiful Cartier Tanks, and even a two-tone Rolex Datejust. And while the utilitarian Chronomat GMT 40 is a pretty far cry from a solid-gold Tank Louis Cartier, one can’t very well fight Atreides—as his character did valiantly in Dune: Part Two—in a dainty, hand-wound dress watch, right? Butler, for his part, wears both types of watches well.LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 8: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 8, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)Adam Pantozzi/Getty ImagesLeBron James’s Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Le Mans”Very few people on this planet can get their paws on a yellow-gold Rolex “Le Mans” Daytona, but it’s not particularly surprising that LeBron James is one of them. The white-gold version, with its “exotic” dial, red printing, 24-hour counter, and Easter eggs, nearly blew up the internet upon its debut in 2023. The yellow-gold version, which debuted as an off-catalog model in 2024 and quickly replaced the white-gold original, has rarely been seen in public—save on the wrists of the likes of Roger Federer. With its solid-gold construction and vintage-inspired references, it’s already one of the hottest Rolexes watches of the 21st century thus far.Presley Ann/Getty ImagesRobert Downey Jr.’s Gérald Charles Maestro 8.0 SqueletteOn RDJ’s wrist at the 38th Annual American Cinematheque Awards was a watch that would be surprising to see on any other celebrity’s wrist. However, Downey is the type of guy who’s watch collection is filled with horological deep cuts. The Gérald Charles Maestro 8.0 Squelette is a highly finished, highly limited piece of haute horlogerie that’ll run you close to six figures—provided, of course, that you can secure an allocation. Because while it may look like a fairly simple time-only watch with a skeletonized movement, it’s actually a sophisticated bit of machinery that required two years of R&D to get its automatic micro-rotor movement with a 22K gold rotor just right. If you recognize its distinctive octagonal case architect
Austin Butler is officially set to play Patrick Batman in the anticipated remake of 2000’s American Psycho. While the 1980s setting of the original film saw Christian Bale rocking an imitation Rolex Datejust—it was actually a Seiko 5, as Rolex, understandably, didn’t care to associate with a murdering psychopath—we’ve yet to see what kind of horological goods the prop master will strap to Butler’s wrist in the upcoming Luca Guadagnino version. Regardless, not long after the announcement, Butler did wear an awesome travel watch, the Breitling Chronomat GMT 40.
Spotted on his wrist at the SF Film Awards, the Chronomat GMT 40 is perhaps not the first watch that comes to mind when one conjures up images of American Psychos or the Saint-Imier-based brand. Breitling is famous for its Navitimer pilot’s watch and Emergency tool watch—which comes with a beacon that will alert search and rescue teams to your location—the company has long produced timepieces for aviation workers. But the Chronomat GMT 40, with its tubular-link bracelet, rider tab bezel, heavy onion crown, and stark black dial with GMT indicator, is precisely the type of hard-wearing, good-looking watch that a pilot or an explorer might wear, albeit perhaps in slightly fancier form.
The Chronomat line has been around for quite a while. The product family, launched during the World War II, includes all sorts of cool chronographs, some of which were cased in gold. Later, in the late 1960s, the collection expanded into references such as the 1808, an automatic, oversized dual-register chrono with a multi-scale dial, date window, and left-hand crown. The contemporary versions, which resemble Gérald Genta’s most famous designs, are merely the latest in a long line of cool experimental tool watches that each borrow a bit from the design language of the era in which they debuted. If you’re a globe-trotting film star who needs to walk a red carpet on a Monday and be on set Tuesday morning, you might indeed choose something like the Chronomat GMT 40, which includes both a GMT movement as well as a dive bezel to time discrete events.
Of course, this is far from Butler’s first horological rodeo: In August, he wore a Chronomat with a cool “panda” dial while passing through JFK; before that, he’s been spotted with beautiful Cartier Tanks, and even a two-tone Rolex Datejust. And while the utilitarian Chronomat GMT 40 is a pretty far cry from a solid-gold Tank Louis Cartier, one can’t very well fight Atreides—as his character did valiantly in Dune: Part Two—in a dainty, hand-wound dress watch, right? Butler, for his part, wears both types of watches well.
LeBron James’s Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Le Mans”
Very few people on this planet can get their paws on a yellow-gold Rolex “Le Mans” Daytona, but it’s not particularly surprising that LeBron James is one of them. The white-gold version, with its “exotic” dial, red printing, 24-hour counter, and Easter eggs, nearly blew up the internet upon its debut in 2023. The yellow-gold version, which debuted as an off-catalog model in 2024 and quickly replaced the white-gold original, has rarely been seen in public—save on the wrists of the likes of Roger Federer. With its solid-gold construction and vintage-inspired references, it’s already one of the hottest Rolexes watches of the 21st century thus far.
Robert Downey Jr.’s Gérald Charles Maestro 8.0 Squelette
On RDJ’s wrist at the 38th Annual American Cinematheque Awards was a watch that would be surprising to see on any other celebrity’s wrist. However, Downey is the type of guy who’s watch collection is filled with horological deep cuts. The Gérald Charles Maestro 8.0 Squelette is a highly finished, highly limited piece of haute horlogerie that’ll run you close to six figures—provided, of course, that you can secure an allocation. Because while it may look like a fairly simple time-only watch with a skeletonized movement, it’s actually a sophisticated bit of machinery that required two years of R&D to get its automatic micro-rotor movement with a 22K gold rotor just right. If you recognize its distinctive octagonal case architecture, it might be because the “Gérald Charles” in question is actually Gérald Charles Genta, the famed designer of the Royal Oak and Nautilus.
Nicole Kidman’s 1920s Omega cocktail watch
Omega outfitted Nicole Kidman with a 100-year-old cocktail watch for an appearance at the Los Angeles Premiere of Babygirl. Crafted from platinum and set with 24 brilliant-cut diamonds, it features an unusual, highly Art Nouveau-inspired shape and a dial with a railroad minute track, stylized Arabic numerals, and a blued steel handset. Even the thin, black fabric strap is unusual, making for an awesome, highly idiosyncratic package. Imagine rocking this thing at a cocktail party between the Wars—or a red carpet premiere of a “talkie” in the late 1920s, for that matter. Cool stuff!
Will Ferrell’s Rolex Submariner “Hulk”
Everyone’s favorite Stepbrother made a strong showing at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival with a colorful take on perhaps the most iconic watch in the world, the Rolex Submariner. Ferrell’s version—a 40mm reference 116610LV “Super case” version with thicker lugs and crown guards than the typical Sub—is known amongst collectors as the “Hulk” for its green dial and bezel combo. No longer in production, it was preceded by 2003’s “Kermit” 50th-anniversary model and succeeded by the current-production ref. 126610LV “Starbucks,” which features a green bezel and a black dial and measures 41mm. If you want the Ferrell look but don’t wanna drop $15K on a watch, there’s always the actor’s Timex Abu Garcia, which you can find on eBay for about $180.
