Queen Elizabeth II owned a significant collection of luxury watches, notably from Patek Philippe, including the unique pearl-bracelet Golden Ellipse, and Jaeger-LeCoultre, featuring the tiny Calibre 101 (worn at her coronation) and the Reverso, alongside pieces from Cartier and Omega (like the Ladymatic). Her collection showcased classic taste, with a fondness for yellow gold, diamonds, and craftsmanship, often favouring elegant, smaller timepieces.
Her Royal Highness Patek Philippe
This was the watch she wore most often. The Queen was a big fan of the Patek Philippe Ellipse. She was also seen wearing a more traditional version of the Ellipse in the 1980's.
Kate Middleton's Cartier Ballon Bleu
It's clear that the royal family loves Cartier watches – and the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, is no exception. Kate has been a favorite of many royal family followers since her marriage to Prince William in 2011.
The Queen had at least 14 luxury wristwatches – most were never seen and remain a mystery, but it's rumoured there was a Cartier, a Patek Philippe and a Jaeger–LeCoultre Reverso in her collection.
The "Holy Trinity" of watches refers to three iconic, ultra-high-end Swiss luxury brands: Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin, revered for their unparalleled craftsmanship, innovation, heritage, and exclusivity, representing the pinnacle of traditional horology. These brands produce some of the most complex and prestigious timepieces, often becoming "grail" watches for collectors due to their artistry, investment potential, and status.
Grail Watches: The Holy Trinity - Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin – And What is a 'Grail Watch' Anyway? - Quill & Pad.
Diana favored luxury dress watches over sports models, with the Cartier Tank influence dominating her collection throughout her adult life. Though she occasionally wore a Patek Philippe timepiece given by Prince Charles during her marriage, she consistently returned to Cartier for personal choice.
Queen Camilla's Cartier Tank Francaise
While the Tank can come in many styles, Queen Camilla opts for a timeless, traditional black strap and gold dial.
What films and TV series did the Queen enjoy? It's difficult to find direct attribution, but secondary sources inform us she was a big fan of Doctor Who, my favourite programme of all time. She also enjoyed comedies, such as The Kumars at No 42, and dramas including Downton Abbey.
Unlike many watch enthusiasts or public figures who rotate among dozens of high-end pieces, Prince William is known for his unwavering commitment to a single timepiece: the Omega Seamaster Professional 300M Quartz with a blue dial and stainless steel case.
Both Cartier and Rolex are highly prestigious, but in different ways: Rolex is generally seen as more prestigious in the watch world for its technological innovation, status as a symbol of success, and superior value retention/appreciation, while Cartier's prestige comes from its history as a legendary jeweler ("jeweler of kings") known for elegance, design, and fine jewelry. Rolex often dominates in watch resale value and collector demand, whereas Cartier offers timeless, design-focused pieces that appeal to those valuing artistry and heritage.
Both are renowned for their luxury timepieces, but they cater to different tastes and preferences. OMEGA watches are known for their rich history in sports timekeeping and innovative technology, while Cartier is celebrated for its elegant designs and iconic collections.
As for why the Prince of Wales often wears two watches, fans speculate that the reason behind the move is pretty practical – one watch is a timeless, sentimental piece, whereas the other is a fitness tracker.
Which watch do billionaires wear? You often see Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, Richard Mille RM 88 Smiley Tourbillon, Rolex Daytona “Le Mans” Edition, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and F.P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu Byblos on their wrists. These watches stand out because they use rare materials.
Yes, Prince William and Kate Middleton sleep in the same bed, often with their dog Orla, a revelation Prince William shared, highlighting a more modern, relatable approach to royal life compared to past generations who sometimes used separate beds for status or privacy. While they have separate bedrooms for some downtime and might use separate beds when traveling on the royal train due to its layout, their usual arrangement at home is together, with their dog as a regular bedfellow.
Obviously, Pateks are more expensive, but that doesn't necessarily make them “better” in the grand scheme of things. “Patek has been making watches for 180 years, while Rolex has only been around for 110,” notes Bob's Watches founder and renowned Rolex collector, Paul Altieri.
The "Big Four" watch brands in the ultra-luxury segment, often cited by industry reports, are Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Richard Mille, dominating market share and prestige, while sometimes the "Holy Trinity" (Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin) is mentioned alongside Rolex or A. Lange & Söhne as the pinnacle of traditional high horology. These brands represent the top tier in exclusivity, craftsmanship, and investment potential, appealing to collectors and the ultra-wealthy.
Princess Diana stopped wearing Chanel in the years following her divorce – and RadarOnline.com can reveal her decision was driven by the fact the brand's famous interlocking Cs reminded her of the then-Prince Charles' affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.
King Charles
His passion dates back to his youth, when he was often seen sporting a Patek Philippe Disco Volante. That wasn't his only love, however; he would also don a two-tone Cartier Santos on occasion or a yellow gold Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso.
Easy: it is usually the non-dominant hand. Wearing two watches on different wrists, the dominant and the non-dominant, was undoubtedly broadcasting a message: that the wearer did not have the need to do hard manual work. And wearing two, would send it stronger.
Barron Trump: Daytona Ref.
In any case he was seen wearing the Rolex 126508 while entering Trump Tower with Melania, and it is certainly a lot of watch for a student still at business school. Barron is of course not just any old student, to be sure, and he is already a partner in his own luxury real estate venture.
He requested an IWC Ingenieur SL 1832, a vintage 1976 model by Gérald Genta — often considered the godfather of modern watch design — who was also responsible for the cult Patek Philippe Nautilus and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.
Prince William's Omega Seamaster 300m
As a gift from his mother, Princess Diana, the timepiece holds immense personal significance as she tragically passed away in 1997 due to a fatal car crash. He uses the reference 2561.80.