Featured image: jurvetson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tom Brady’s best-known watch is the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN (ref. IW389101), a 44.5 mm black ceramic chronograph from the Swiss brand he has represented as a global ambassador since 2019. Away from the campaign work, he is regularly photographed in Audemars Piguet, Rolex and Richard Mille pieces worth far more.
Quick answer Tom Brady is the face of IWC Schaffhausen, and the TOP GUN pilot’s chronograph is the watch he wore in the brand’s campaign. He previously fronted TAG Heuer (announced in 2015), and he has also been seen in an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, Rolex Day-Dates and Richard Mille models. Much of his collection went under the hammer at Sotheby’s in December 2024.
Tom Brady’s IWC Watch: The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN
When IWC launched its TOP GUN collection in April 2022, Brady was the star of the global campaign, appearing in short films wearing the chronograph in black, sand, green and white ceramic. The black ceramic version, reference IW389101, is the one watch media most often tie to him, and a related TOP GUN chronograph (the Miramar edition) was in his personal collection when IWC signed him in 2019.
It is a big, blacked-out tool watch with a matte ceramic case that resists scratches, which suits the pilot’s-watch theme. The table below lists the specs of the black ceramic version.
| Spec | IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN (IW389101) |
|---|---|
| Case size | 44.5 mm |
| Case material | Black ceramic |
| Movement | IWC-manufactured calibre 69380, automatic chronograph |
| Power reserve | 46 hours |
| Water resistance | 60 m (6 bar) |
| Approximate price | Roughly $6,500 to $7,000 pre-owned; IWC has since moved to smaller 41 mm TOP GUN chronographs |
Where to buy
Compare the same watch on both sites: eBay for pre-owned and vintage pieces, Amazon for new stock.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN
Hamilton Khaki Aviation Pilot Chronograph Alternative
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Alternative
Citizen Promaster Nighthawk Alternative
Prices and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
How Tom Brady and IWC Came Together
IWC announced Brady as a global brand ambassador in June 2019, after he had already been photographed wearing several of its watches. Before that, TAG Heuer announced him as an ambassador in October 2015 and released a Patriots-colored Carrera Heuer 01 with his signature. The TAG Heuer deal is assumed to have run its course before IWC signed him, although neither brand published an end date.
As of the most recent IWC campaign coverage we could find, he remains the face of the brand. We could not find an announcement that the deal has ended, but ambassador contracts change quietly, so treat “current” with care. We found no Brady partnership with Breitling.
Away from the TOP GUN, he has also been linked to the Portugieser Perpetual Calendar (ref. IW503401), which IWC has said is in his collection. For other IWC wearers on this site, see our look at the IWC worn by Bradley Cooper in Aloha, or browse the IWC hub.
The TOP GUN name also belongs to the films, where the IWC Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor watches appear alongside the Porsche Design chronograph Maverick wears.
Other Watches Tom Brady Has Been Seen In
Brady’s wrist is a regular talking point, and sightings are well documented by watch media. Here are the pieces that come up most often, with the caveat that some identifications come from photos rather than confirmed ownership.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
JCK reported that he wore a blue ceramic Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar, ref. 26674CD, at Super Bowl LX in February 2026. In September 2026 he was spotted at a Bills game while working as a FOX analyst wearing a rainbow gem-set Royal Oak that was reportedly valued around $485,000 by Page Six; the exact watch was not independently confirmed. Audemars Piguet also made him a one-of-one Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon for Netflix’s The Roast of Tom Brady. For more on the brand, see Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Audemars Piguet Offshores.
Rolex
Time+Tide documented a run of Rolex sightings in 2023: a platinum Day-Date 40 with an ice-blue dial, a white gold Day-Date with a green dial at Roland-Garros, a Day-Date 36 “Jigsaw” puzzle dial, and a white gold Daytona “Le Mans” Centenary edition at the US Open. He was also seen in a vintage yellow gold Daytona at the Patriots’ 2023 season opener. Compare that with another athlete’s choices in our piece on Stephen Curry’s Rolex Deepsea and Day-Date.
Richard Mille and Patek Philippe
The same report puts him in a Richard Mille RM 11-03 Flyback Chronograph and an RM 012 platinum tourbillon, and shows a Patek Philippe 2499 perpetual calendar chronograph in a post he captioned “IYKYK”. His Richard Mille RM 35-03 “Baby Nadal” and a rose gold Patek Nautilus Chronograph (ref. 5980/1R-001) were later consigned to auction. See also Bubba Watson’s Richard Mille tourbillons.
Brady’s tastes also stretch back in time. In 2023 Time+Tide counted a Patek Philippe ref. 2499 and a Rolex Daytona among his sightings, and IWC has said his own collection includes the Portugieser Perpetual Calendar. The common thread is complicated mechanical watches in precious materials, with the IWC TOP GUN as the sporty everyday exception.
What Happened to Tom Brady’s Watch Collection?
In December 2024, Sotheby’s New York held “The GOAT Collection: Watches and Treasures from Tom Brady,” with the main sale on December 10. WatchPro reported the 19 watches fetched about $4.6 million in total.
The top lots included the one-of-one Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon made for the Roast, which reportedly sold for about $720,000. The Richard Mille RM 35-03 “Baby Nadal” made roughly $384,000. An IWC Pilot’s Watch TOP GUN “SFTI” sold for about $42,000, well above its estimate, and two other IWC pilot’s watches sold for about $72,000 each. The sale was clearly not the end of his watch habit, since he has kept turning up in new pieces in 2026.
Affordable Alternatives to Tom Brady’s IWC
If you like the stealth pilot’s chronograph look without an IWC budget, several real, currently sold options come close. A modern 41 mm IWC TOP GUN chronograph is the direct upgrade path, but costs thousands.
- The Hamilton Khaki Aviation line brings a military-pilot design with Swiss movements at a mid-range price.
- The Seiko Prospex Speedtimer offers a solar chronograph with a clean racing-inspired dial.
- The Citizen Promaster Nighthawk gives you a rugged Eco-Drive pilot’s watch.
Our titanium versus stainless steel guide helps if you are weighing lightweight cases. For the vintage side of his old TAG Heuer deal, see the Heuer chronograph in our John Glenn article.
FAQ
What watch does Tom Brady wear?
He is most associated with IWC, especially the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN and the Portugieser Perpetual Calendar. He is also photographed in Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks, Rolex Day-Dates and Daytonas, and Richard Mille models.
Is Tom Brady an IWC ambassador?
IWC announced him as a global brand ambassador in 2019 and he fronted its TOP GUN campaign in 2022. We found no announcement that the deal has ended, but we cannot confirm its status for 2026.
Did Tom Brady wear TAG Heuer?
Yes. TAG Heuer announced him as a brand ambassador in October 2015 and released a special-edition Carrera Heuer 01. He later joined IWC in 2019.
How much is Tom Brady’s watch worth?
His IWC TOP GUN is worth roughly $6,500 to $7,000 pre-owned. His Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille pieces are far pricier, with a one-of-one Royal Oak selling for about $720,000 at Sotheby’s in December 2024.
Did Tom Brady sell his watches?
Yes, a large part of them. Sotheby’s New York sold 19 of his watches in December 2024 for about $4.6 million in total.
Sources
- Senatus: Tom Brady Stars in IWC’s TOP GUN Campaign
- Time+Tide: Tom Brady continues on an absolute tear with his exponentially growing watch collection
- WatchPro USA: Winners and losers in the $4.6 million sale of Tom Brady’s GOAT watch collection
- JCK: All That Glitters / Watches (Super Bowl LX)
- IBTimes UK: Tom Brady spotted with rainbow Audemars Piguet
- Senatus: TAG Heuer and Tom Brady launch new Carrera Heuer 01