Fired up: The best watches spotted on Hot Ones (Seasons 1 – 25)
Zach BlassHot Ones has blossomed from a humble web series to one of the most-watched YouTube series in the world. Interviewer Sean Evans is known for being incredibly thorough in his research, hosting some amazing conversations with his celebrity guests while punishing them with increasingly spicy chicken wings. Perhaps the heat of the wings focuses the guests’ caution on the wings rather than the questions and, as a result, some really awesome insights into each guest find their way into the episodes. Also often finding their way into each episode are killer wrist-cameos – serious heavy-hitting timepieces going along for the ride. So, here are some of the best watches we have spotted on Hot Ones over the last 24 seasons, and currently running 25th season.
Lewis Hamilton: IWC Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 ref. IW501201
While it would seem Lewis Hamilton’s upcoming move to Ferrari will almost certainly end his partnership with IWC, the past 11 years have certainly seen the Formula 1 legend be the Schaffhausen brand’s best brand ambassador, helping get a lot of eyeballs on IWC watchmaking. Naturally, during his appearance on Hot Ones, Hamilton was sporting an IWC watch – Hamilton has had several signature IWC models produced for him over the years but for his (vegan) wing munch-down, he chose the Big Pilot’s Watch AMG G 63 in the brand’s proprietary Armor Gold. The gold alloy is billed to be significantly harder and more wear-resistant than conventional gold.
David Beckham: Tudor Black Bay Chrono Pink
Unfortunately, as a left-hander, the only moments David Beckham’s Black Bay Chrono Pink comes into perfect full view is when he is putting a wing into his mouth. Fortunately for Beckham, however, is that as a Tudor ambassador, he is able to rotate between all of the latest and greatest the very hot brand is offering – his wrist even seemingly being used to leak novelties at times (something IWC has done with Lewis Hamilton, too). It also is a perfect watch for him considering the dial’s pink hue evokes the kit of his Inter Miami team. His appearance on Hot Ones came not long after the reveal of the Black Bay Chrono Pink, so it made sense he would flex on us all and at least give us a look at it in action in the wild.
Serena Williams: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked ref. 26585CE.OO.1225CE.01
Tennis has become a phenomenal sport for watch brands to find ambassadors to enlist, with players either wearing the watches during match play or at the very least putting the watch on during press conferences, while raising a trophy or out and about at events. Audemars Piguet hit the jackpot with Serena Williams, having a GOAT of the game wearing Royal Oaks during her matches. Since her retirement, the relationship has remained strong too. What I love about Serena and AP is that she wears a diverse size range of the brand’s watches: whether it’s a Royal Oak Mini at a gala, a Black Panther Royal Oak Concept on the red carpet, or the black ceramic Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked while trying to digest Da Bomb Beyond Insanity on Hot Ones.
Vince Vaughn: Panerai Luminor 1950 8 Days GMT ref. PAM233
After a long tenure as Hollywood’s resident funnyman – seemingly starring in every hit comedy throughout the 2000s – Vince Vaughn’s hot streak appeared to come to an end by the 2010s. Vaughn has since pivoted from being a go-to star for comedy movies to a more diverse range of roles and more appearances on television, with notable series such as True Detective and Bad Monkey. Facing the wings of death to promote his Apple TV series, I and various eagle-eyed Redditors believe Vaughn wore a Panerai Luminor 1950 8 Days GMT ref. PAM 233. The 6’5″ actor appears to have enough wrist meat to handle the 44mm stainless steel watch, which notably boasts GMT and power reserve indicating complications along with an 8-day movement.
Zlatan Ibrahimović: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked “Cactus Jack”
When Zlatan Ibrahimović appeared on the show, it may have been the first time the wings were more afraid of the guest. The football legend oozed his signature intimidating aura at the table while sporting his Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked “Cactus Jack” – arguably one of the biggest hype pieces of recent years, made in collaboration with superstar hip-hop artist Travis Scott. Zlatan is not shy about liking the finer things in life, and he is known to be quick to get the most headlining watches of the moment. For example, he was seen wearing the contentious Cubitus shortly after Patek Philippe officially revealed the watch to the world.
Ryan Reynolds: Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional ref. 310.60.42.50.10.001
This watch is hardly a surprise to be seen on Ryan Reynolds’ wrist. It has become a clear go-to for him ever since he wore this Moonshine Gold and green-dialled Omega Speedmaster to the Met Gala in 2022, and became even closer with the Speedmaster during his film The Adam Project. I can’t blame him. If I had that watch, I would wear it all the time as well.
Chris Hemsworth: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26331BA.OO.1220BA.01
Australian heartthrob Chris Hemsworth was well-known for being a TAG Heuer ambassador, until a mic-drop moment (at least for us) where he was caught partying wearing an Audemars Piguet and spotted wearing various Rolexes as well. It was apparent he became a free agent, and while he was recently seen sporting blingy Chopard Alpine Eagles and Bulgari Octo Finissimos at various red carpet events, it is clear he is still retaining agency in the watches he wears in his free time. For example, on the most recent episode of Hot Ones, he can be seen facing the wings of death while wearing a drool-worthy Audemars Piguet Royal Oak chronograph in yellow gold with a blue dial and contrasting yellow gold-toned counters. Panda dials are typically fan favourites, and blue dials with yellow gold are a certified winning combo.
Ice Spice: Richard Mille RM 05 set with aftermarket diamonds
With a name like Ice Spice, it should come as no surprise that the hypey rapper wore a (presumably aftermarket iced-out) Richard Mille RM 05 on Hot Ones – said to be gifted to her by fellow American rapper Lil Tjay. With a watch like that, it is certainly something you buy to flex – which may explain why, contentiously, Ice Spice wears her Richard Mille over her sleeve. Most cannot pull this look off, but this author believes she gets passing marks. Who am I to tell her how to wear her watch? Even if I did try to school her, she’d probably ask me “you think you’re the sh*t?”, and then proceed to tell me “you’re not even the fart”.
Jake Gyllenhaal: Cartier Santos de Cartier Medium ref. WSSA0029
Gyllenhaal is a well-known “friend of the brand” of Cartier’s. Nevertheless, it was still cool to see what may have been the first standard Cartier model make its wrist-cameo debut on Hot Ones. Two lessons from this spot. First, the medium is the way to go. Sure, machismo may lead you to believe the large is the better option – or if a date complication is a must-have in your book. But the purer dial of the medium and its classic size is more true to the reference in my book, and it looks great even if your wrist is larger. Second, the Santos de Cartier and its timeless design has a formal sensibility that allows it to easily be dressed up. It can also easily be dressed down as Gyllenhaal demonstrated during his appearance on the hot wing interview series.
Kieran Culkin: Rolex Datejust ref. 126300-0017
It would appear Culkin, most known these days for his portrayal of Roman Roy on HBO’s now-concluded series Succession, has similar watch taste to his on-screen character. On his recent Hot Ones appearance, promoting the final season of the show, Kieran can be seen wearing a Rolex Datejust with an “azzuro blue” dial with Roman numerals – a nod to his character’s name perhaps? I am glad to see he is following the unwritten rule of smooth bezel and Oyster bracelet (whereas the fluted bezel is better paired with a Jubilee).
James Corden: Patek Philippe Aquanaut ref. 5168G-001
This will not be a shock if you are a regular watcher of Corden’s Late Late Show with James Corden as time and time again this Patek has been his go-to, whether behind the desk during interviews or in the car during his beloved Carpool Karaoke segment (which is also rife with wrist-candy watch-spotting).
John Mayer: Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Rainbow ref. 116599
Probably the most market-influencing celebrity watch collector, John Mayer was the first guest on Hodinkee’s Talking Watches series. After each of the two Talking Watches videos starring him, many of the references he discussed saw a surge on the secondary market – Mayer is truly a watch influencer. For his Hot Ones appearance, he wore a highly sought-after and valuable rainbow Rolex Daytona ref. 116599 in white gold to subtly match the tie-dye shirt beneath his sweater… This watch was already pretty hard to get, but Mayer’s co-sign hasn’t made it any easier to acquire.
Kumail Nanjiani: Patek Philippe Aquanaut ref. 5167R
We recently covered Kumail’s AP flex in the Marvel film Eternals, but one watch the actor notably wears often from his own personal collection is the Patek Philippe Aquanaut ref. 5167R. Of all the watches in this list, this is likely the one I would want to add to my collection the most. The Aquanaut is such a casual flex, even in rose gold, and it carries such a versatile aesthetic – both formal and functional.
Ed Sheeran: Patek Philippe ref. 5270G-019
Ed Sheeran is a well-known quantity in watch collecting, owning everything from top-class A. Lange & Söhnes, APs, Pateks and Richard Milles to accessible pieces like the controversial yet groundbreaking MoonSwatch. During his time on hot ones, Sheehan opted for a modern classic from Patek – the 5270G-019. It is the white-gold sibling of the 5270P which instead sports a modern blue sunburst dial rather than vintage-inspired salmon.
Megan Thee Stallion: Rolex Sky-Dweller ref. 326938 set with aftermarket diamonds
Megan Thee Stallion, one of the most talented female rappers in the music industry, was able to remain cool during her Hot Ones appearance thanks to her Houston, Texas upbringing and the iced-out Rolex Sky-Dweller on her wrist. The Rolex Sky-Dweller, arguably Rolex’s most complicated modern watch, is by no means a dainty timepiece. In fact, it is one of the larger models in the catalogue clocking in at 42mm in diameter. The watch is known for being the latest take from Rolex on the ultimate traveller’s watch, with two timezones, date under a Cyclops magnifier at 3′, along with the month via apertures framing the hour indices – or in the case of Megan’s discontinued variant of the ref. 326938, bold hour Arabic numerals. The giveaway that it is, in fact, this reference is the dual-time ring rendered in white.
Jack Harlow: Rolex Sky-Dweller ref. 336934-0005
American rapper Jack Harlow also wore the complicated Rolex reference but instead opted for arguably the most in-demand configuration in stainless steel with a bright blue dial, which he’s previously said he “can’t live without”. That being said, I personally prefer the Sky-Dweller on a Jubilee bracelet due to the fluted bezel. And, while I highly doubt Rolex ever would, I wish a Sky-Dweller in 40mm or below would make its debut someday – wouldn’t that be absolutely awesome?
Jacob Elordi: TAG Heuer Monaco ref. CAW211P.FC6356
View this post on Instagram
Euphoria‘s conflicted dreamboat, easy on the eyes externally but a whirlwind internally, Nate, played by the much nicer in real life Jacob Elordi, opts for his trusty TAG Heuer Monaco to join him on his journey to summit Hot One’s spice mountain. It is an iconic chronograph – the first automatic and squared chronograph – that, perhaps, shows an admiration for heroes like Steve McQueen.
Quavo: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph set with aftermarket diamonds
Some will scoff at the bussed-down bling, but rap superstar Quavo – leader of rap group Migos – traded in the brushed surfaces of his Royal Oak Chronograph in pink god for over 70 carats of diamonds that were set not only in the case, bracelet, and crown but also the dial as well.
Simu Liu: IWC Portugieser Automatic ref. IW500109
Canadian actor Simu Liu, on his episode of Hot Ones, rocked the IWC Portugieser Automatic. This more approachably-sized (42.3mm x 14.1mm) Portugieser features a polished case, 168-hour power reserve automatic calibre plus calendar date and power reserve complications.
Courtney Cox: Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date
The most understated watch on this list, the sitcom superstar wore a vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date with a champagne or silver dial for her Hot Ones appearance. The tell it is an Oyster Perpetual Date versus a Datejust is the entirely brushed oyster bracelet.
Kevin Hart: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore
Kevin Hart has become one of the most successful comedians of all time in recent years and has since accrued an incredible collection of Rolex, AP, and Patek Philippe pieces among others. He’s a particular AP obssessive however, which is perhaps why it wasn’t a big surprise that his time on Hot Ones was spent wearing a ceramic and pink gold Offshore: the most robust form of the Royal Oak ready to take on the spice challenge.
Gordon Ramsay: Rolex Submariner ref. 1680 and IWC Mark XI ref. 6B/346
The no-nonsense chef, who’s appeared twice on Hot Ones (only one of a few celebrities to be afforded the honour) came ready for battle both times around with horological heat. For his first appearance, he wore a Rolex Submariner ref. 1680 on an aftermarket leather NATO strap. Personally, I hate the idea of a diver on leather. But, knowing Gordon, I don’t think I would have the cojones to argue with him in person.
The vintage theme continued even on his second appearance on the web series, with the Scotsman choosing to sport an IWC Mark XI on a fabric NATO. It is likely Gordon is fond of the reference due to its ties to the Royal Air Force and its usage by their pilots once upon a time.