What watches do the stars of HBO’s Euphoria wear in real life?
Zach BlassBack in my high school days, I remember watching the UK show Skins and thinking how wild its portrayal of high school/college life was – partying, drink, drugs and sex to the max. MTV, unsuccessfully, tried to transport Skins over to the US with their own take on the storyline. With American television far more restricted about what can actually be shown on cable, the watered-down version just didn’t live up to the original. Today, however, the closest comparison to Skins is HBO’s Emmy-awarded hit show Euphoria. When the second season debuted earlier this month, traffic was so high to tune in that the HBO-MAX app literally crashed – it is definitely one of the biggest TV shows of the moment right now. Adapted from an Israeli television show, Euphoria centres around themes of drugs, addiction, sexuality, gender dynamics and more. While a bit over the top, the show really resonates with viewers due to its thoughtful immersion into the themes its storyline revolves around. While their characters, understandably, do not particularly flex luxury wristwear in the show, in real life we have spotted many of the cast members sporting some A-list timepieces. So, here are the watches some of the stars of HBO’s Euphoria wear in real life.
Jacob Elordi (Nate): TAG Heuer Monaco
Jacob Elordi does not portray a particularly likeable character in Euphoria. Nate is manipulative, abusive and a borderline psychopath – traits it would seem he inherited from his father, who in turn inherited it from his. Fortunately in real life he is quite the stand up and cheerful guy. While sitting down with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show to discuss the new season, Elordi’s gesticulation as they were chatting clearly revealed a classic reference on his wrist: the TAG Heuer Monaco ref. CAW211P.FC6356. This is, of course, the modern generation of the 1969 design – notably popularised by Steve McQueen while on his wrist in the film Le Mans. The world’s first squared automatic chronograph, and first water-resistant chronograph (with a depth rating of 100m then and now), this lasting design has always had a place in the hearts of watch and racing enthusiasts around the world. Equally as distinguished now as it was in 1969, the Monaco is a great option for buyers looking for something different than the norm – yet backed by decades of incredibly rich heritage. Elordi pairs the watch with a ribbed sweater and letterman jacket, and I think it looks absolutely sick on his wrist.
Zendaya (Rue): Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 7118/1R
View this post on Instagram
Super-couple Tom Holland and Zendaya were spotted as a Patek pair while promoting Spiderman No Way Home during an IMDB interview, Tom sporting a 5167/1A Aquanaut and Zendaya a 7118/1R Nautilus. Tom has been known to have a strong case of the watch-bug, with some marvellous timepieces in his collection, but don’t sleep on Zendaya here. Whether or not Tom had any influence on her choice of wristwear doesn’t really matter. I remember when the 7118 was first announced, many men, such as myself, wondered if they should try and aim for it instead of the 5711. The dial aesthetic is a bit softer and more rounded in nature, but it is every bit as much watch as the now discontinued 5711. The rose-gold configuration Zendaya is rocking is simply gorgeous, and totally in line with her poise and personality.
Angus Cloud (Fezco): Cartier Santos
The Cartier Santos is a well-established collection for sure, but today it can, at times, get overshadowed by watches like the Nautilus and Royal Oak. The current offerings within the collection are stronger than ever, with 100m of water-resistance, various size options, a bundled quick-change bracelet and strap, and even quick-change links you can remove simply with your finger. As far as a daily wearer goes, it doesn’t get much better than this – a total beach to boardroom piece that wears well in any environment. Actor Angus Cloud, who plays the kind-hearted drug dealer Fezco, can be seen sporting what appears to be the large model in rose gold in his IMDB headshot, the casual gold flex making me want one for myself in the medium size that much more.
Algee Smith (Chris): Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Titanium
Algee Smith’s character Chris has kind of disappeared in season 2 so far, so it will be interesting to see what the future holds for him in the future seasons of Euphoria. Off-screen though, you can find the above shot on his Instagram profile with the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Chronograph GMT Titanium in full view. The super-thin chronograph GMT is a nice and lightweight daily wearer, the stealthy matte-blasted finish creating an ‘if you know, you know’ aesthetic. It doesn’t beg for attention, but its baroque faceted form is certain to lead onlookers to ask what is on your wrist.
Colman Domingo (Ali): IWC Big Pilot
Zendaya’s character Rue, a drug-addicted high-schooler, does not particularly have a desire to get clean despite the exhortations of her friends and family. As much as they try to intervene, each sentiment of concern inevitably falls on deaf ears. Her sponsor, however, Ali, played by Colman Domingo, is the only person who really makes a dent in getting her to even consider doing so. As part of a special Euphoria episode between seasons, released in the middle of the pandemic, we find the pair discussing life, philosophy and sobriety for an entire hour episode – just the two of them sitting in a diner verbally jousting back and forth. While an episode of just two people talking in one setting may seem boring, I personally found it to be one of the best episodes of the show and incredibly well written, like a filmed play. While he does not have as much screen time as the other major characters, he has a big presence in each moment he is a part of a scene. Speaking of a big presence, you can catch Domingo wearing an IWC Big Pilot while posing for a red carpet shot with his fellow cast mates. If you have the wrist to pull this 46mm beaut off, it is an iconic must-have for your collection. The timepiece is in the class of watches that can immediately be spotted from across a room, and not just because of its larger diameter. All it took was its leather strap and big onion crown for me to know what I was looking at, such a distinct look that many other brands have tried to homage. I have always envied those who can comfortably wear one, its design something that has always caught my eye, even before I could truly call myself a watch enthusiast.