Nicolas Cage’s Watch Collection - From Rolex to Audemars Piguet
Who doesn’t love Nic Cage? I’m being serious. The actor has gained a cult following over the years due to his ability and willingness to cross genres and his eccentric personality. The the Nicolas Cage film I can vividly remember watching was Face/Off (1997). In addition to Face/Off Cage has appeared in myriad other films including The Rock, 8mm, the National Treasure franchise, and more recently Pig.
Though Cage was at one point one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood, he is known to have gone through some financial difficulties. This was due in large part to his extravagant spending, including, among other things, buying an island in the Exuma archipelago, a medieval castle in Germany, a dinosaur skull of a Tarbosaurus (which he returned to a museum after learned it was stolen), and “the most haunted house in America” which is located in New Orleans.
The extravagant spending seems to have carried over to his watch collection, which is pretty top notch (along with some more ostentatious pieces that might not be for everyone). While he is a big fan of Rolex, Cage has quite a few other brands in his collection. The watches seem to be the one thing he didn’t sell off over the past few years on his way to financial freedom (in addition to doing quite a few direct to on-demand films). That may have been smart, as we all know how watch prices (and in particular Rolex prices) have skyrocketed over the last few years.
So, let’s take a look at Nic Cage’s watch collection.
Nicolas Cage’s Rolex Watches
Cage’s Rolex collection includes some very rare pieces. But he also has a “standard fare” Rolex Submariner as well. It appears he has gotten some mileage out of his Submariner. Cage wore it in National Treasure 2 and has been spotted wearing it out and about. The Submariner with ceramic bezel made its debut in 2007, so Cage’s undoubtedly is the aluminum bezel variety (Ref. 16610). You can pick one up on the secondary market for around $12,000 USD.
The rest of Cage’s Rolex collection skews expensive (and gold for that matter). Nic has quite a few gold Rolexes, some common and some very, very rare. One of the more common gold Rolexes Cage has been spotted wearing is the rose gold Rolex GMT-Master II Ref. 126715CHNR “Root Beer”. Nicknamed the Root Beer due to the black and brown bezel, this piece retails for $39,350 directly from Rolex. However, if you can’t get one at retail expect to pay upwards of $63,000 USD on the secondary market.
Nicolas Cage has also been spotted wearing one of Rolex’s largest offerings, the Sky-Dweller. The Sky-Dweller is one of Rolex’s most complicated watches with a middle subdial for a second 24-hour timezone and month indicators a the hour indices. Cage owns and older model Ref. 326938. You can purchase one on the secondary market for around $60,000 USD.
Cage’s Rolex collecting began early in his career. Way back in 1995 he was spotted wearing the very rare 36mm gold Rolex Day-Date 36mm with black Onyx diamond dial, fluted bezel and a president bracelet. While I prefer the Onyx without the indices at 6 and 9, Cage’s piece is still very nice. Some collectors complain that while the Onyx dial looks great, it is near impossible to tell the time with the lack of hour markers. You can pick up this Day-Date Ref. 18238 on the grey market for $31,000 USD.
Subdued but elegant. That’s how I would describe Cage’s Rolex Cellini Moonphase. Perhaps one of Rolex’s more under-appreciated pieces, it is definitely a dress watch. This version of the Cellini includes a moonphase complication, which is very rare for modern Rolexes. The Rolex Cellini Moonphase Ref. 50535 retails for $26,750 USD and sells on the secondary market for $28,000 USD and up.
Cage’s next Rolex can be best described as befitting his eccentric personality. The Rolex Daytona Ref. 116598 SACO "Leopard" is not everyone’s cup of tea. This piece not only includes a leopard print dial with diamond indices and leopard print strap, but diamonds in between the lugs and a 36 cognac-colored baguette sapphires on the bezel. The prices of this piece vary pretty wildly on the secondary market, from between $120,000 USD and $180,000 USD.
The final Rolex I will feature from Cage’s collection is definitely the most special piece. Indeed, through all of Cage’s financial difficulties, he has kept this piece. He has been spotted wearing it as early as 2002 and as recently as this year. I am talking about his Rolex Ref. 6062 Triple Calendar with moonphase and star dial. Indeed, Karl Lagerfeld is known to have owned the same model. You will rarely see this watch for sale, but when they do come up for auction they fetch a pretty penny. Phillips sold one at auction in 2018 for 636,500 CHF (around $682,000 USD).
Nicolas Cage’s Audemars Piguet Watches
No serious collector’s collection is complete without a Gerald Genta creation. Cage has that in perhaps the most lusted after of Genta’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks, the steel Ref. 15202 with blue dial (maybe the successor model to the 15202, the new Ref. 16202 will surpass it in desirability). Cage was recently spotted wearing his Royal Oak casually with some beaded bracelets on the same wrist (hope he doesn’t scratch it!). The Ref. 15202 was recently discontinued but you can purchase it for $140,000 USD or more.
Cage has also been spotted wearing a Royal Oak Offshore chronograph adorned with black diamonds (I believe the diamonds were aftermarket). Contrary to what some might believe, customizing your watch like this might actually not help the value. Similar Royal Oak Offshores with aftermarket black diamonds have sold for under $30,000 USD, while the Royal Oak Offshore Black Themes (the base model) sells for around $27,000 USD on the secondary market.
Nicolas Cage’s Patek Philippe Triple Date Chronograph REf. 3970
The only Patek Philippe on the list is surely a classic. While it may not be a Nautilus, Cage’s Patek Philippe Triple Date Chronograph Ref. 3970 screams classic Patek Philippe. The REf. 3970, not only includes, the day, date, month, and chronograph, but also has moonphase. That is quite a few complications in a watch. The Patek Philippe Triple Date Chrono Ref. 3970 is available for over $100,000 USD on the grey market.
Nicolas Cage’s Hublot Big Bang Unico Red Sapphire
Love or hate Hublot, the Big Bang Unico in red sapphire is an interesting piece. From the skeleton dial to the transparent sapphire case, the watch is definitely a conversation piece. I was able to try this piece on in person and it is pretty impressive. Not to mention that sapphire cases are incredibly difficult to make (and expensive) because they are prone to cracking and thus a lot of material is wasted in their production. Well, Cage appears to be a fan of the Big Bang Unico sapphire because he has one in his collection. You can pick up a Big Bang Unico Sapphire Ref. 411.JR.4901.RT on the secondary market for around $60,000 USD.
Nicolas Cage’s Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grand Réveil
Jaeger-LeCoultre has always been one of the most underrated Swiss watch brands. The brand is constantly creating complicated and innovative timepieces at much more affordable prices than many of their Swiss counterparts. It’s somewhat perplexing as to why you don’t see more fanfare for the brand.
Cage has been spotted wearing at least one JLC, the Master Grand Reveil. The Master Grand Reveil is an extremely interesting watch. It combines a perpetual calendar and a mechanical alarm. The watch also shows the phases of the moon in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This is the only watch that provides all these complications in a single watch. You can purchase the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grande Reveil for around $25,000 USD on the secondary market.
Nicolas Cage’s Zenith El Primero Tourbillon ChronoMaster
Cage has been spotted wearing a Zenith El Primero Tourbillon ChronoMaster. This limited edition of just 50 pieces has numerous features, including a guilloche dial, date, and tourbillon. The only example of this watch currently for sale on the secondary market is currently for sale for around $47,000 USD.
Nicolas Cage’s Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph
Nicolas Cage became a Montblanc ambassador back in 2006, appearing in print ads wearing different Montblanc timepieces. He was subsequently spotted in 2013 wearing the the Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph “Open Home Time” in 18k rose gold. This 43mm timepiece features a chronograph, partial skeleton dial and a second time zone. While not many of this exact model are available for sale on the secondary market, similar pieces are currently listed for around $30,000 USD.