Every Timepiece in Paul Mescal’s Red Carpet Rotation

The Irish actor reflects on why certain watches have become his companions.

Paul Mescal is definitely a watch guy. On the red carpet, it’s the tailoring that may land him on best-dressed lists, but zoom in on the details, and it’s what’s on his wrist that is being written about.

His appearances have featured everything from the ultra-rare Cloche de Cartier at the 2021 Fashion Awards; a vintage Cartier Tank Normale in 18-carat yellow gold with a black leather strap (with a Juste un Clou single earring and a steel C de Cartier tie clip) at The History of Sound headline gala during the BFI London Film Festival; and a vintage Cartier Gondole worn at the Hamnet premiere. At the 2026 Golden Globes Awards, he wore a custom black Gucci tux with the vintage Cartier Tortue; at the 98th Academy Awards, he reached for a 1999 Cartier Tank Basculante from his own collection.

For the Aftersun actor, a watch’s significance extends far beyond what it looks like on the wrist. “I have never been particularly sentimental about objects, but I do think certain pieces gather meaning the longer you live with them,” he says. “In terms of moments in my life, particularly big career moments, Cartier watches have been with me in those big moments.”

That perspective perhaps explains why the Tortue has become one of the recurring pieces in his rotation. Asked what draws him to the latest interpretation of the watch, Mescal says: “I think I’m drawn to things that feel lived-in even when they’re new.” He further reflects, “There’s something slightly off-center about the shape which I love. On a carpet, where everything can feel quite heightened and performative, it’s nice to wear something that feels considered but not loud. It sits comfortably in that space between classic and a bit unexpected.”

That appreciation for enduring design also extends to the Cartier Prive collection, especially his favorite, the Tank Normale. “There’s something very grounded about it, especially in this platinum, seven-row bracelet execution that quietly echoes a model from 1934. It feels like it belongs in the past in a classic sense and I just love that.”

Those sensibilities carried through to Cartier’s presentation at Watches & Wonders, where Mescal fronts its latest campaign wearing the Santos-Dumont, the Tortue SM in yellow gold on leather, and the Tank Normale. This year’s presentation introduced new interpretations of emblematic models while revisiting its well-known archival pieces such as the Tortue and Roadster.

In the Philippines, Cartier is located in Greenbelt 3. For more information, visit Cartier’s official website.