Featured image: FrankWilliams, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Gordon Ramsay’s most iconic watch is the Rolex Submariner 116619LB, known as “the Smurf,” a white gold Submariner with a blue dial and ceramic bezel. It sits at the center of a collection that runs from 1960s vintage Rolexes to a bespoke Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph and a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time.
Quick answer Gordon Ramsay wears multiple Rolex Submariners â including the steel vintage 1680, the 18k gold 1680/8, and the white gold 116619LB “Smurf” â along with a Rolex Yacht-Master, Explorer II, an IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII, a Breitling Chrono Avenger, and high-end Audemars Piguet pieces. He told Haute Time in May 2024 that he got into watches while diving in the Florida Keys and started with Submariners. His confirmed collection now spans well over a dozen references across multiple brands.
Gordon Ramsay’s Rolex Submariner Collection
Ramsay has described discovering the Rolex Submariner while diving in the Florida Keys, where he used one as a go-to dive watch. That early attachment turned into one of the most varied Submariner collections among celebrity collectors. He has been photographed in at least three distinct Submariner references and talks about the brand with genuine enthusiasm rather than as a fashion accessory.
His most frequently photographed piece in recent years is the Ref. 116619LB, nicknamed “the Smurf” for its blue dial, blue Cerachrom ceramic bezel, and 18k white gold case. Launched in 2008, it was part of Rolex’s first-generation ceramic-bezel Submariner line. It represents the premium end of the Submariner range, and belongs to a generation of Rolex that dominates the watches serious celebrity collectors choose. The 116619LB has since been superseded by the 126619LB (41mm, Calibre 3235), though Ramsay’s example is the earlier generation.
He also wears two vintage Submariners. The first is the steel Ref. 1680 â the first date Submariner, produced from 1969 â worn on a brown leather strap. The second is the rarer 18k yellow gold Ref. 1680/8 with a “nipple” dial, referring to the distinctive dome-shaped applied hour markers found on certain gold variants of that reference.
| Spec | Rolex Submariner Date 116619LB |
|---|---|
| Case | 40mm, 18k white gold, Oyster |
| Dial | Blue, applied 18k white gold hour markers, date at 3 o’clock |
| Bezel | Uni-directional rotating Cerachrom ceramic insert, blue, 60-minute scale |
| Movement | Rolex Calibre 3135, self-winding, 48-hour power reserve |
| Water resistance | 300m (1,000 ft) |
| Reference | 116619LB (superseded by 126619LB in 2020) |
| Approx. price (pre-owned 116619LB) | About $38,000â$45,000 |
Where to buy
Compare the same watch on both sites: eBay for pre-owned and vintage pieces, Amazon for new stock.
Rolex Submariner Date 126619LB
Omega Seamaster Professional 300m Alternative
Tudor Black Bay 58 Alternative
Prices and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
The Rolex Yacht-Master and Explorer II
Alongside the Submariners, Ramsay regularly wears the Rolex Yacht-Master Ref. 116655 in Everose â Rolex’s proprietary rose gold alloy â on a black Oysterflex rubber strap. The Yacht-Master is a sportier, less dive-focused cousin of the Submariner, with a bidirectional bezel and the same 300m water resistance. Pre-owned Ref. 116655 examples typically trade for roughly $29,000â$35,000, depending on condition and paperwork.
He has also been spotted in a Rolex Explorer II Ref. 16550 with a cream “ivory” dial, produced through the mid-1980s. The 16550 introduced the cream dial as an alternative to black and remains one of the cleaner-looking vintage sports Rolexes available. For more on how Rolex dominates celebrity wrists, the Roger Federer watch guide shows another collector who has built a deep Rolex portfolio.
Audemars Piguet: From the Code 11.59 to a Bespoke Royal Oak
In early 2024, Ramsay stepped into Audemars Piguet territory in a conspicuous way, appearing at the opening celebration of his Lucky Cat restaurant in Miami wearing the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Self-Winding Flying Tourbillon, Ref. 26396NB. The piece combines a black ceramic and 18k white gold case with a black onyx dial and pink gold accents; it retails at approximately $120,000.
More personal still is the bespoke AP he received with his wife Tana. Ramsay told Haute Time in May 2024 that they commissioned matching Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronographs with a custom purple Grand Tapisserie dial to mark their 25th wedding anniversary, as purple is his stated favorite color. The standard white gold Royal Oak Chronograph (Ref. 26240BC) retails well above $100,000; a bespoke commission adds further to that. It’s one of the most distinctive personal commissions in celebrity watch collecting.
IWC and Breitling on Television
Two more accessible pieces show up regularly in Ramsay’s on-camera work and public appearances.
The IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Edition “Tribute to Mark XI,” Ref. IW327007, was confirmed on his wrist at the 2022 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. It is a 40mm stainless steel pilot’s watch on an olive canvas strap â 60m water resistant, powered by IWC’s Calibre 35111 automatic â and was limited to 1,948 examples. It retailed for about $4,900; secondary-market prices currently run somewhat higher. The best pilot watches guide puts this reference in context against the broader category and covers other IWC models at similar price points. IWC also has a following among other celebrities â it appears in the Brad Pitt F1 watch coverage for context on how the brand’s pilot pieces cross into film and motorsport.
His Breitling is the Aeromarine Chrono Avenger M1, Ref. E73360, in titanium with a distinctive bright yellow dial. Produced roughly 2002â2008, it was spotted on him during filming of Hell’s Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares. The E73360 uses a thermo-compensated quartz movement (Breitling Calibre 73 SuperQuartz). Pre-owned examples trade for approximately $3,000â$4,500 â far below his Rolexes, suggesting that for professional kitchen work Ramsay is not always reaching for the most expensive piece on his dresser.
| Spec | IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII Tribute to Mark XI (IW327007) |
|---|---|
| Case | 40mm, stainless steel |
| Dial | Matte black, luminous Arabic numerals and markers |
| Movement | IWC Calibre 35111, automatic |
| Water resistance | 60m |
| Strap | Olive-green canvas with brown leather lining |
| Limited edition | 1,948 pieces |
| Original retail | About $4,900 USD |
The Omega Seamaster, Patek Philippe, and the Iceland Watch
Earlier in his collecting journey, Ramsay wore the Omega Seamaster Professional Chronometer 300m, Ref. 25318000, in steel. It is a practical automatic dive watch â 300m water resistant, Calibre 1120 movement â that holds its own in serious watch company. Pre-owned Ref. 25318000 examples currently trade for roughly $2,500â$3,500. It is a watch chosen by serious collectors precisely because it delivers legitimate dive credentials at a price that doesn’t require a waiting list or a precious-metal budget.
In late 2024, Robb Report caught Ramsay in a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time, Ref. 5164R, in rose gold with a brown embossed dial. The 5164R shows two time zones simultaneously using an independent jumping local hour hand that can be hidden behind the main hour hand, with a local date display adjusted via two case pushers. Retail runs to approximately $63,040 USD.
The most unexpected piece in his collection may be the JS Watch Company Blue Sif NART 1948, a small-batch piece from a Reykjavik workshop that Ramsay visited on a trip to Iceland. It features a royal blue sunburst dial, 100m water resistance, and a Swiss automatic movement, originally designed for the Icelandic Coast Guard. It retails for about $3,034 USD â a fraction of anything else in his collection and a genuine example of a collector buying a watch for the story behind it.
Affordable Alternatives to Gordon Ramsay’s Watch Style
The Omega Seamaster Professional 300m is the most direct entry into Ramsay’s taste â he owns the same watch, it remains in production, and it retails new for roughly $4,200â$5,000. The current generation uses the Calibre 8800 automatic with co-axial escapement, 300m water resistance, and Master Chronometer certification.
For the pilot’s watch direction, the IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XX â successor to the Mark XVIII â is available new for around $4,800 and continues the same clean aviation aesthetic in a 40mm steel case. If the Breitling Avenger is what attracts you, the Breitling Superocean Heritage II occupies a similar rugged-sports position at roughly $3,000$4,500 on the pre-owned market.
For anyone drawn to the Rolex Submariner look at a fraction of the cost, the Tudor Black Bay starts at around $3,500. Tudor is owned by the same parent company as Rolex and uses a movement co-developed with ETA. It delivers a credible dive watch built to serious standards, which explains why it has found fans beyond the celebrity chef world that Anthony Bourdain once occupied.
FAQ
What watch does Gordon Ramsay wear most often?
Based on documented sightings across multiple watch publications, Ramsay reaches for Rolex Submariners most frequently, with the white gold 116619LB “Smurf” appearing most often in photographs from public events and media appearances over the past several years.
What is Gordon Ramsay’s most expensive watch?
The bespoke Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph with a custom purple Grand Tapisserie dial, confirmed in a Haute Time interview in May 2024, is likely the most valuable piece in his collection. He and his wife Tana received matching commissions for their 25th wedding anniversary; the production white gold version retails well above $100,000, and the bespoke element adds further to that.
What watch does Gordon Ramsay wear on Hell’s Kitchen?
He has been spotted wearing the Breitling Aeromarine Chrono Avenger M1, Ref. E73360, in titanium with a yellow dial, during filming of Hell’s Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares. The IWC Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII (Ref. IW327007) has also appeared in his television-adjacent appearances.
How many Rolexes does Gordon Ramsay own?
At least five Rolex references have been documented in his collection: the steel Submariner Ref. 1680, the yellow gold Submariner Date Ref. 1680/8, the white gold Submariner 116619LB “Smurf,” the Everose Yacht-Master Ref. 116655, and the Explorer II Ref. 16550 with cream dial.
Did Gordon Ramsay commission a custom Audemars Piguet?
Yes. Ramsay told Haute Time in May 2024 that he and his wife Tana commissioned matching Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronographs with a bespoke purple Grand Tapisserie dial to mark their 25th wedding anniversary, as purple is his stated favorite color.
Is the Rolex Submariner 116619LB “Smurf” still available?
The 116619LB has been superseded by the updated Ref. 126619LB, which Rolex introduced in 2020 with a 41mm case and the newer Calibre 3235 movement. Pre-owned 116619LB examples currently trade for roughly $38,000â$45,000 on the secondary market.
Sources
- WrisuÊ nthusiast: Gordon Ramsay’s Watches
- IFL Watches: Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay Watch Collection
- Haute Time: Chef Gordon Ramsay on Time Being His Biggest Asset
- Watchoso: Gordon Ramsay Watch Collection
- Robb Report: Gordon Ramsay’s Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time