Tom Cruise's Watch Collection - Rolex, Cartier, Porsche Design and More

Tom Cruise is something of an enigma as a watch collector. In his early days, most of the times he would be spotted wearing a watch in a film but not in everyday life. Movies such as Top Gun and Rain Man featured some interesting timepieces on Cruise’s wrist. However, it seems that more recently Tom has begun to flex his collecting muscle. And by more recently I mean the last year or so. Hey, it’s never too late to get into horology, and the 60 year old Cruise has certainly done that with his recent collecting.

Tom Cruise’s Porsche Design Chronograph 1

Cruise rose to fame playing Lieutenant Pete Mitchell, more commonly referred to by his call sign Maverick, in the 1986 film Top Gun. Top Gun followed Maverick after he is sent to the Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School, where the naval pilots train to refine their elite flying skills. Interestingly, in the film, Maverick is not wearing a Breitling or IWC, traditional pilot watches steeped in history, but a Porsche Design Chronograph 1. The Chronograph 1 was first released in 1972, and it clearly was designed as a Pilot watch (even though Porsche has more accolades as a car company).

Interestingly, when Cruise agreed to reprise Maverick 36 years later for the sequal Top Gun: Maverick (2022), he made sure that he was wearing the same watch. Not the same model, or a similar model of the watch, but the same exact watch. I have to say, I love watch continuity in movies. However, if you can’t get your hands on a vintage Porsch Design Chronograph 1, the brand rereleased the watch in 2022. The rerelease, the Porsche Chronograph 1 All Black, currently retails for $9,650 USD.

Tom Cruise’s Rolex Day-Date

Just two years after the original Top Gun Cruise hit gold again in the critically acclaimed Rain Man (1988). Starring opposite Dustin Hoffman, Cruise played Charlie Babbitt who finds out after his father passes away that he has an autistic older brother named Raymond (Hoffman) and that his father's $3 million fortune is being left to the mental institution where Raymond lives. In the film, Cruise portrays a somewhat sleazy car salesman and is attempting to get his father’s fortune for himself. Cruise can be seen wearing a gold Rolex Day-Date with champagne dial. This Day-Date, likely a Ref. 18238, can be picked up on the secondary market for around $20,000 USD.

Tom Cruise’s Rolex Datejust

Cruise doesn’t only wear a Rolex on the big screen. He has been seen wearing at least two in every day life. In 2009, Cruise was seen wearing the most classic, yet understated, Rolexes available: the stainless steel Datejust. Cruise’s no frills Datejust had no embellishments as he opted for an oyster bracelet and smooth bezel. Along with the white dial, this Datejust is a great everyday watch for anyone, movie star or not. Rolex currently does not produce this exact variation of Datejust (with white Roman numeral dial) in 41mm, but the 36mm version retails for $7,250 USD.

Tom Cruise’s Rolex Sky-Dweller

Tom Cruise’s Rolex wristwear has seamed to span his entire career. Just last week (July, 2022) Cruise was spotted wearing one of Rolex’s largest offerings, the Sky-Dweller. Coming in at 42mm, the Sky-Dweller is not a small watch by any means. Cruise was wearing a stainless steel Sky-Dweller with oyster bracelet, jubilee bezel and black sunburst dial. The Rolex Sky-Dweller Ref. 326934 retails for $15,200 USD.

Tom Cruise’s Rolex GMT-Master II in White Gold

It is just my luck that right after I publish this article, Cruise appears wearing another Rolex. He sure seems to be getting his Rolex fix recently. This time, Cruise could be seen wearing the white gold Rolex GMT-Master II 126719BLRO with blue dial and red and blue “Pepsi” bezel. This piece shares a lot in common with the stainless steel Rolex Pepsi. You can tell the difference between the two by the weight of the white gold GMT-Master II and blue dial. The Rolex GMT-Master II 126719BLRO retails for $39,350 USD.

Tom Cruise’s Rolex Daytona 116500 Panda

Cruise has really improved his Rolex collection recently. In addition to his Sky-Dweller and a white gold GMT-Master II, Cruise was seen in September 2022 wearing the modern classic stainless steel Rolex Daytona Ref. 116500 with “Panda” dial. The Daytona is perhaps the most famous and popular chronograph there is and the 116500 is at the top of many collectors’ list. It retails for $14,550 USD but currently sells far above retail on the secondary market.

Tom Cruise’s TAG Heuer S/el Quartz Chronograph

The 1990s saw Tom Cruise become the biggest movie star on the planet. One such film Cruise starred in to critical acclaim was Jerry Maguire (1996). Cruise starred as eponymous Maguire, a brash but good-hearted sports agent who leaves the security of his plush agency to start his own agency. While you might expect a sport agent to wear something expect, like a Rolex, Jerry Maguire wears the more modest TAG Heuer S/el Quartz chronograph. It makes sense in the film. Once Maguire sets off on his own, he is not exactly financially secure and would likely not keep anything too expensive. CUrrently, you can find similar TAG Heuer S/el Quartz chronographs on the secondary market for around $700 USD.

Tom Cruise’s Panerai Luminor Marina PAM00299

People may joke that Cruise is short, apparently he is 5’7”, but he can definitely pull off a large watch. Cruise was seen with Oprah wearing the 44mm Panerai Luminor Marina Ref. PAM00299 and this watch does not look large on his wrist. While most Panerais are offered on leather or rubber straps, the PAM00299 comes on a handsome integrated bracelet. This gives a large watch even more wrist presence. The PAM00299 has applied SuperLuminova indices as well as a date at 3 o’clock. This watch is just quintessentially “Panerai”. It is no longer being produced but you can find them on the secondary market in the $5,000 USD to $6,000 USD price range.

Tom Cruise’s Bremont ALT1-C

Cruise has become enough of a collector to become familiar with some brands known mostly to enthusiasts. And although Bremont is large enough to have a flagship store on New York’s Madison Avenue, the British brand has become extremely well regarded among devoted collectors. Cruise was spotted wearing the Bremont ALT1-C. Interestingly, each ALT1-C is individually hand assembled upon order. The watch retails for $5,995 USD.

Tom Cruise’s Graham Chronofighter Diver

It appears Cruise has an affinity for British watch brands. In addition to the Bremont, Cruise has been seen wearing the unique Graham Chronofighter Diver. This watch is big at 47mm. On top of that, the watch features a patented “trigger” that not only operates as a crown guard, but also a start-stop button for the chronograph. This variation of the Chronofighter has been discontinued, but you can find them on the secondary market for just under $10,000 USD.

Tom Cruise’s Tudor Heritage Chronograph

The Mission Impossible films might be the most successful spy movies besides James Bond (the Bourne films, which we have watch spotted, are up there as well with Mission Impossible). In 2011’s Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Cruise’s Ethan Hunt can be seen wearing a Tudor Heritage Chronograph. The Heritage line was originally release in 2010 and pay homage to the Tudor Ref. 7031 and 7032 “Homeplate” originally released in 1970. The Homeplate became something of an icon of a watch, often being referred to as a mini Newman (referencing a Paul Newman Daytona) in collectors’ circles. Given the popularity of these vintage models, it made sense that Tudor would release a modern version. The Tudor Heritage chronograph Ref. M70330N-0006 retails for $4,525 USD.

Tom Cruise’s Cartier Santos de Cartier

Recently, Cruise has been making the rounds wearing multiple Cartier watches. One of these watches is a personal favorite, the Cartier Santos. Cruise is wearing the medium sized model since there is no date at 6 o’clock (as there is in the large model). While the Cartier Santos medium is only 35mm across the case, it wears a lot larger due to the square case shape. The Santos Medium model retails for $6,800 USD.

Tom Cruise’s Cartier Calibre de Cartier Chronograph

Cruise was also recently seen wearing another Cartier, this time the Calibre de Cartier. Discontinued in 2018 (and without any notice or acknowledgement), the Cartier Calibre is an interesting watch. The top half of the dial has roman numeral indices while the bottom half are sticks. The watch also has a chronograph with subdials set in the middle of the watch and a triple date window at 6 o’clock (where you can see not only the current date, but the previous and next date as well). You can still find the Calibre de Cartier available at many resellers, with a wide price range for $7,000 USD to $11,000 USD.

Tom Cruise’s Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin

Tom Cruise attended the 2022 Cannes Film Festival in style, and his choice of watch did not disappoint. Matching his blue tuxedo, the Top Gun and Mission Impossible star impressed with a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin with sunburst blue dial. At just 8.1 mm thick, this Vacheron Constantin is the perfect stealthy, but extremely complicated, watch to tuck under your shirt cuff. Being a perpetual calendar, the 18k white gold watch watch features subdials with the day, date, month, and moonphase, all accurate until the year 2100. The is extremely complicated and thus commands the high price of $102,000 USD at retail.

Jacob & Co. Epic II Chronograph

When you think of celebrity-wearing Jacob & Co. watches, you might think of Connor McGregor, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Well, Cruise apparently has a Jacob & Co. Epic II Chronograph in his collection. Cruise was photographed a few years back wearing the Limited Edition 47mm stainless steel Jacob & Co. timepiece that features a shock-resistant quartz movement and chronograph. While the Jacob & Co. Epic II chronograph is no longer in production, you can find them on the secondary market for around $5,000 USD.