Celebrity Spotting at Watches and Wonders 2024
All kinds of stars came out to play at Watches and Wonders 2024. From athletes to physicists, Watchonista plays the horological fame game with our annual watch-spotting roundup.
By Rhonda Riche
Editor-At-Large
Like last year’s show, Watches and Wonders 2024 was also a star-studded event.
So, let’s take a look at some of the famous faces that walked the halls of Palexpo last week.
IWC
Philanthropist, New York Times Bestselling Author, supermodel, and IWC Brand Ambassador Gisele Bündchen was on hand to help the brand kick off its Watches and Wonders exhibition. For this occasion, Gisele wore a sophisticated white pantsuit and the new Portugieser Chronograph (ref. IW371626) in Horizon Blue.
Also in attendance was Superstar Physicist Brian Cox, who collaborated with celebrated composer Hans Zimmer to create an hourlong composition inspired by IWC’s new Portugieser collection, specifically the Portugieser Eternal Calendar. Cox accompanied IWC’s CEO Christopher Grainger-Herr during the brand’s keynote presentation to explain the philosophy behind this exquisite musical composition.
Chopard
Chinese actor and Chopard Global Brand Ambassador Yilong Zhu spent his birthday in Geneva. While in town, he cut into a cake designed by the maison wearing an Alpine Eagle watch, plus a pendant and ring from the brand’s Ice Cube collection.
The legendary six-time Le Mans winner and longtime Chopard ambassador Jacky Ickx co-hosted a dinner for lucky retailers, collectors, and select press. So, of course, he’s wearing the Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph JX7.
Rolex
Tennis legend and Rolex Testimonee Coco Gauff visited Palexpo to receive a specially engraved timepiece to commemorate her US Open win.
I think we’d all be more motivated to up our game if we knew we might get a Rolex for our efforts.
Hublot
The crowds came out for French footballer and Hublot brand ambassador Kylian Mbappé’s appearance at the brand’s pavilion. There were so many fans, in fact, that journalists and retailers waiting for appointments couldn’t get in or out.
Mbappé wore a 44mm Hublot Big Bang e UEFA Champions League GEN3.
NORQAIN
Stan Wawrinka – Lausanne native and winner of the 2014 Australian Open, 2015 French Open, and 2016 US Open – arrived at Palexpo wearing his 42mm Wild ONE Skeleton Coral watch.
Meanwhile, Dominic Stricker, the number two-rated Swiss tennis player, spent some time at the NORQAIN booth wearing his 42mm Wild ONE Skeleton Turquoise.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
There were a lot of cooks in the kitchen this year, including Michelin-star chef Himanshu Saini from Dubai’s Trèsind Studio, who was spotted creating Watches and Wonders-inspired dishes while wearing a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso.
Tudor
The entire World Champion Alinghi Red Bull Racing team hit the Palexpo floor wearing the Tudor Pelagos FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing editions.
Jacob & Co.
The night before Watches and Wonders kicked off, we spied Danièla Dufour (a rising star of the watch world) at a Jacob & Co. cocktail party trying on the new Astronomia Régulateur.
Zenith
Singaporean acting sensation Desmond Tan, best known for his roles in the TV series “Derek” and “Code of Law,” turned up at Zenith’s Watches and Wonders HQ to try on the new DEFY Skyline Chronograph.
Piaget
Group 2PM member and Piaget Ambassador Lee Jun-Ho turned it out in Geneva wearing what looks like the green-dialed Polo Date with a 42mm 18-karat rose gold case and green alligator leather strap.
Thai actor and model Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat, best known for his roles in the TV series “KinnPorsche” and the historical drama Man Suang (2023), also made an appearance at Piaget wearing one of the brand’s Polo Date models.
Montblanc
Watches and Wonders is truly an international affair, as proved by the excitement around actor Jing Boran, known for his roles in The Climbers (2019) and Monster Hunt (2015), at the Montblanc booth where he checked out the Iced Sea 0 Oxygen Deep 4810.
Bremont
Finally, mountain climber, skier, National Geographic photographer, Academy Award-winning documentary director, New York Times Best Selling Author, and Bremont Ambassador Jimmy Chin was spotted at the brand’s Palexpo home, discussing Bremont’s latest releases with CEO Davide Cerrato.
