The Watches of the Stars 2021

Whether on the red carpet, in film and television, or on social media, celebrities are known to like to put themselves in the spotlight, showing off not only what they can do, but also what they have and, above all, what they wear. While most fans and viewers first notice the luxurious dress, the chic suit, or the extravagant hairstyle, watch lovers' eyes almost automatically wander to the celebrity's wrist.

And rightly so: Stars love their watches and are once again showcasing exciting models in 2021. Often, these are watches that outshine any designer dress—at least in the eyes of a connoisseur. We present the watch trends of the stars in 2021, from true classics to rare luxury pieces.

Actors and their watches: Popular models in front of the camera and in private

Actors show off their watches in films and TV shows, as well as in private snapshots. Sometimes they do this seemingly casually, and perhaps even by accident, but often they act as brand ambassadors, thus collaborating with the product manufacturers. As brand ambassadors, they demonstrate timepieces at public events and do their best to present them in the best possible light.

This is what US actor Jake Gyllenhaal, for example, does; he even served as the face of the Santos de Cartier campaign. Nicholas Hoult, who you may recognize from "X-Men," plays a role in the Jaeger-LeCoultre team (just like Benedict Cumberbatch and Amanda Seyfried), and has occasionally published stylish photos of himself sporting the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon .

Things get really high-profile with John Travolta and Breitling watches : The legendary actor is a Breitling brand ambassador and likes to show off his Breitling Navitimer 01, for example.

Bradley Cooper, known from "The Hangover" and "A Star is Born," is similarly committed to advancing his long-standing collaboration with IWC – the brand also backed by Cate Blanchett. Film stars Daniel Craig, George Clooney, and Nicole Kidman are also among the brand ambassadors from film and television: All three actors represent the world-renowned Omega brand.

Which watches do the stars of the sports world wear?

In tennis, football, among runners, and in racing: watches are highly valued by the stars of the sporting world, and here, too, we find brand ambassadors who enthusiastically promote premium chronometers. Usain Bolt, whose Olympic sprinting record is unforgettable, partnered with Hublot back in 2010 and was honored by "his" brand in 2016 – just in time for the Olympic Games – with two special models dedicated to him (Ceramic Usain Bolt and Yellow Gold Usain Bolt).

Steffi Graf, tennis legend and 22-time Grand Slam winner, has been the face of Longines for years, and soccer star David Beckham's tattooed wrists adorn Tudor watches.

And yes, even golf fans can easily find inspiration when it comes to watches: English golf pro Tommy Fleetwood is one of the prominent supporters of the Swiss watch brand TAG Heuer and can be seen wearing, among other things, the TAG Heuer Connected model – in the Golfer Edition, of course.

Celebrities from the music industry rely on these watches

Both musicians and models are among the top role models when it comes to the hottest watches of 2021. Anyone who followed Tudor's BornToDare campaign, for example, knows that none other than Lady Gaga herself is the face of the collection. US singer, songwriter, and producer Pharrell Williams, who has a penchant for luxury watches, even developed his own model with the Richard Mille label: The RM-52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams reflects the world-renowned musical multitalent's fascination with the vastness of space and is anything but "run-of-the-mill."

Are you primarily interested in watches worn by German musicians? We can also help with that: The Fantastischen Vier, the acclaimed hip-hop pioneers from Stuttgart, created the 2014 Chronoswiss Timemaster special edition, which they designed together with the label. Since then, several more collaborations have taken place between the Fantas and Chronoswiss – so the Stuttgart-based guys seem to be staying true to their watch brand, presumably also in 2021.

The watches of the models 2021

Watch lovers who follow the runways and fashion shows of the world can draw inspiration from Adriana Lima and Franziska Knuppe for IWC, as well as from Bar Rafaeli, Hublot's first female brand ambassador. The three successful models are dedicated watch wearers and, due to their profession, have a particularly good knack for showcasing the timepieces in a stylish and eye-catching way in photos and at live events.

Trend: Celebrities present their watches on Instagram

Having a presence on Instagram is an absolute must for most stars. They use the social media platform to provide their followers with pictures and short videos, gain new fans, and also advertise watches they particularly like. One post from 2021 has twice the portion of timepieces at hand: Bastian Schweinsteiger ( IWC, Portuguese Tourbillon ) and his wife Ana Ivanovic (Rolex, Rolex Daytona in stainless steel) are sitting together in a restaurant, although in this photo, at least, it's not the food that's being presented, but the watches on the table. In private photos published online of actor Elyas M'Barek, who shone in, for example, "Fack ju Göhte," we discover the IWC Mark XVIII – no wonder, since M'Barek is a brand ambassador for the renowned label.

Want another example? Rapper Drake regularly posts pictures of himself proudly sporting a yellow gold Rolex Day-Date or other pieces from the label. The list of stars who showcase watches on social media could probably go on forever. Here are some more examples:

• Heiner Lauterbach with the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date

• Jérôme Boateng with the Sky Dweller from Rolex

• Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht with the Rolex Datejust

• Kai Pflaume with the Louis Vuitton drum

Status symbol, statement, stylish accessory: watches as multi-talents and favorite pieces in the spotlight

Yes, celebrities and their watches: Some flaunt them as a status symbol, others want to make a statement, and still others simply wear them as a stylish accessory to an expensive outfit. 2021 is still young: So we can look forward to seeing which chronometer favorites the stars will bring to our attention over the rest of the year.