Featured image: Clyde94, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Jerry Seinfeld is a serious watch collector, and the brand he is most associated with is Breitling, with a different Breitling pilot’s chronograph turning up in many episodes of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. His headline piece is a vintage Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 once presented to racing driver Vic Elford, which Phillips has announced it will sell in New York in December 2026.
Quick answerBreitling, in models such as the Aerospace, the Navitimer and the Cosmonaute, plus a Heuer Autavia “Siffert” and a G-Shock Rangeman. His most valuable watch is the Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 from Vic Elford’s 1968 Daytona 24 Hours win, estimated at $100,000 to $200,000.
Where to buy
Compare the same watch on both sites: eBay for pre-owned and vintage pieces, Amazon for new stock.
Breitling Navitimer
Rolex Daytona 6239
G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400
Seiko chronograph Alternative
Prices and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
The Breitling connection
Seinfeld wears Breitling more than any other brand on camera, and Gear Patrol notes he is a collector who rotates through many of them. Time and Tide’s guide to the show’s watches matches particular episodes to particular watches:
- Breitling Aerospace: a titanium analog-digital (“ana-digi”) quartz pilot’s watch, worn in the episode with Ellen DeGeneres.
- Breitling Navitimer (1990s): the classic chronograph with a slide-rule bezel, worn in the episode where Dave Chappelle wears an Apple Watch.
- Breitling Cosmonaute 01 Black Steel: a 24-hour-dial Navitimer variant, on a drive with Tracy Morgan in a 1984 Ferrari 288 GTO.
Because he changes watches so often, there is no single “Seinfeld Breitling.” The better description is that he wears the brand regularly and mixes in other makers.
Why the Navitimer suits him
The Navitimer was created in 1952 after the U.S. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association asked Breitling for a tool watch for its members. It combined a chronograph with a bidirectional slide-rule bezel, which pilots use to work out speed, fuel consumption and unit conversions. The Cosmonaute followed in the early 1960s, when astronaut Scott Carpenter asked for a 24-hour dial to tell day from night in orbit. Modern Navitimers such as the B01 Chronograph 41 keep that original 41 mm size.
The Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 from Vic Elford
This is the piece collectors talk about. According to Phillips, Rolex presented the watch to Vic Elford after he won the 1968 24 Hours of Daytona in a Porsche 907 Langheck. Phillips describes it as the first documented Rolex Daytona given to the winner of an automotive race.
| Detail | Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 6239 (Vic Elford) |
|---|---|
| Case | Stainless steel, with original case, bezel, dial and bracelet per Phillips |
| Provenance | Presented to Vic Elford after the 1968 24 Hours of Daytona; documented by a Rolex USA letter and an Elford letter, both from 2010 |
| Owner | Jerry Seinfeld, who bought the Porsche 907 at auction in 2014 and later acquired the watch |
| Restoration | Sympathetic restoration with color-matched hands, a period-correct domed crystal and a repaired bracelet rivet |
| Auction | Phillips New York Watch Auction XV, December 5 to 6, 2026 |
| Estimate | $100,000 to $200,000 |
The Phillips announcement does not give case size or movement details. Vintage Daytonas of this era are manual-wind chronographs, but check the lot listing if you need exact specifications.
Other watches Seinfeld has worn
- Heuer Autavia “Siffert”: Time and Tide places it on his wrist in the episode with Jerry Lewis. The “Siffert” nickname refers to the Autavia associated with racing driver Jo Siffert; one collector blog says Seinfeld’s is a ref. 1163T bought around 2005, which we could not confirm elsewhere.
- Casio G-Shock Rangeman: a rugged solar digital worn in the episode with Zach Galifianakis. The exact reference was not identified in the sources we checked. Current Rangeman models such as the GW-9400 list for roughly $280 to $365.
- Cartier Santos: one collection round-up says he wore a steel Santos on the sitcom. We could not corroborate this, so treat it as unverified.
Other comedians’ watches on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
The show has become a favorite hunting ground for watch fans because guests rarely dress their watches up for the cameras. Here are the sightings that come up most often, based on Time and Tide’s episode guide and other reports:
| Guest | Watch | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ellen DeGeneres | Rolex Daytona, “Paul Newman” style | She is a keen Rolex collector; see her full collection |
| Kevin Hart | Rolex Sky-Dweller | Seen in the episode where they ride in a 1959 Porsche RSK Spyder; the Sky-Dweller is Rolex’s annual calendar, dual-time-zone watch |
| Barack Obama | Fitbit Surge | A fitness tracker rather than a classic watch; see our Obama article |
| Dave Chappelle | Apple Watch | Noted by Time and Tide |
The Obama episode, which aired on December 31, 2015, produced one of the most talked-about wrist shots on the show. Running Magazine reported that Obama wore a Fitbit Surge, a GPS fitness watch, and said he had been steered away from Apple and Samsung wearables because of security concerns about devices with recording capability. That second part is that outlet’s report and we could not confirm it independently.
Get the look for less
Seinfeld’s taste points to racing chronographs and pilot watches, both of which have affordable options.
- Vintage-style racing chronographs: Best for a Daytona-adjacent feel. Look at Seiko and Citizen chronographs, typically $200 to $500.
- Casio G-Shock Rangeman: he wears one, and it is the budget end of his taste at around $280 to $365. Pro: very tough, solar and atomic timekeeping. Con: large and not subtle.
- Navitimer-style pilot chronographs: several brands offer slide-rule or pilot-style watches at modest prices; see our Breitling Navitimer homage guide.
Our homage watch guide and Submariner homage roundup have more affordable alternatives to famous Rolex designs.
FAQ
What watch does Jerry Seinfeld wear?
He is best known for Breitling chronographs (Aerospace, Navitimer and Cosmonaute), along with a famous vintage Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 and pieces from Heuer and Casio.
What is Jerry Seinfeld’s most valuable watch?
The Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 from Vic Elford is estimated at $100,000 to $200,000 by Phillips for its December 2026 sale.
Is Jerry Seinfeld selling his Rolex Daytona?
Phillips has announced it will offer the watch in New York on December 5 to 6, 2026.
What watch did Obama wear on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee?
A Fitbit Surge fitness tracker, according to coverage of the episode.
Sources
- Phillips: Vic Elford’s historic Rolex Daytona from the collection of Jerry Seinfeld
- Time and Tide: 14 of the best watches spotted in Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
- Time and Tide: Breitling Navitimer, the icons
- Running Magazine: Fitbit Surge gets endorsement from Barack Obama
- Gear Patrol: Comedians who are serious about watches