Red carpet rebels

Charlize Theron

One of the standout red carpet looks at this year’s Oscars was undoubtedly Charlize Theron’s. She wore a minimalist yet expertly draped, fluid satin gown by Dior Haute Couture, accentuated by multiple pieces of jewellery from Boucheron’s renowned Quatre collection. These included a Quatre Radiant choker and necklace stacked together, a bangle, bracelet and dramatic chandelier earrings, paired with a Quartre Double White Edition ring and ear clip in white hyceram and diamonds. Theron’s ensemble, characterised by a silvery-white aesthetic, rendered her ethereal and resplendent.

Sterling K. Brown

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Best Supporting Actor nominee Sterling K. Brown (for American Fiction) sported a non-traditional dress watch. Adorning his wrist was the limited edition IWC Portugieser Regulateur Tourbillon (ref. IW544603). With a generous 43mm diameter, it pays homage to regulator clocks of yesteryear, featuring separate sub-dials for hours and seconds, while minutes are displayed around the dial’s periphery.

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An intricate tourbillon is placed at 9 o’clock, adding complexity to the dial yet maintaining the elegance of classical timepieces. The brown alligator straps and warm grey dial also infused a subtle touch of colour into his classic monochromatic ensemble from Dior.

Ryan Gosling

It takes a certain kind of man to carry off diamond watches effortlessly and Ryan Gosling epitomises this with ease. The TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant D’Avant-Garde watch he wore transcends conventional diamond timepieces. Featuring a single 1.3-carat lab-grown Barbie-pink diamond as the winding crown, a pink diamond in the shape of the brand’s shield logo and 12 baguette-cut lab-grown diamonds as hour markers, it exudes unmatched sophistication. Adding to its allure is a dial crafted entirely from a polycrystalline diamond plate. In addition to elevating his classic black-tie ensemble on the red carpet, this watch proved the perfect accessory when Gosling later performed I’m Just Ken (from last year’s box office smash Barbie) during the awards ceremony, clad in a Barbie-pink outfit.

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Bradley Cooper 

Nominated for his role in The Maestro, Bradley Cooper wore head-to-toe Louis Vuitton, accompanied by his mother, on the red carpet. While seemingly straightforward, Cooper’s attire is subtly subversive. Wearing a double-breasted blazer featuring bright turquoise buttons, flared trousers and a white shirt without a tie, his ensemble offers a refreshing twist on the classic tuxedo attire. To further complement the overall look, Cooper accessorised with a sleek and sporty rose gold Louis Vuitton Tambour watch, characterised by its tapered integrated bracelet and slim case, adding a touch of sophisticated irreverence to his ensemble.

Anya Joy Taylor

Queen’s Gambit star Anya Taylor-Joy exuded vintage Hollywood glamour in a strapless gown from Dior Haute Couture. Embellished with scale-like panels adorned with sequins and crystals, this ethereal dress was inspired by two of Mr Chistian Dior’s creations from 1949 that are currently part of the permanent collection of the San Francisco Fine Arts Museum. She accentuated her classic red carpet look with white diamond jewellery from Tiffany & Co.’s 2023 Blue Book collection but opted for a little surprise on her wrist - Jaeger-LeCoultre’s 101 Reine watch. This timepiece is encased in white gold, set with white diamonds and pays homage to the Art Deco era. Beyond appearances, though, it is driven by the legendary Calibre 101, which was created in 1929 and, to date, still stands as the smallest mechanical watch movement ever made. 

Michelle Yeoh

Last year’s Best Actress award recipient, Michelle Yeoh, never fails to impress when it comes to red carpet glamour. Dressed in a sequinned custom Balenciaga gown paired with opera-length gloves and a sleek updo, she tastefully epitomised black-tie elegance. She opted to accessorise with a gem-encrusted Richard Mille watch and infused a touch of splendour with one-of-a-kind Diamond Foliage pendant earrings created exclusively by jewellery artist Cindy Chao. These exquisite earrings have been expertly adorned with white and yellow diamonds and pink and orange sapphires, weighing 27.3 carats. 

Simu Liu

Canadian actor Simu Liu chose to wear his Fendi dinner jacket without the shirt, a bold move for the red carpet. He accentuated the lapel with a gem-set brooch and the sizeable and vibrant The World is Yours Dual Time Zone watch from Jacob & Co. This unusual timepiece embodies the brand’s signature style with curved surfaces and bright blue and gold hues. On the blue lacquered base of the domed dial is an intricately East-West depiction of the world map, with laser-craved landmasses finished in rose gold. Two sub-dials display independent time zones, while the seconds are indicated at the centre in the shape of a wind rose. Liu’s overall look is unconventional yet elegant and leaves an impression. 

Ke Huy Quan

Last year’s Best Supporting Actor winner of the Oscars Ke Huy Quan looked dapper as he broke the monotony of black outfits with a burgundy double-breasted custom suit and black trousers by Armani, topped with amber-tinted glasses. What’s even more interesting, is his choice of timepiece. He wears a stunning limited-edition version of Cartier’s Santos-Dumont watch that was the talk-of-the town at last year’s Watches & Wonders Geneva. Encased in yellow gold, this timepiece features an intricately skeletonised movement, complete with an oscillating weight modelled after the Demoiselle built by aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont and widely believed to be the world's first ultralight aircraft. Its royal-blue lacquered bezel and matching alligator straps, combined with the yellow gold details, embody form and function perfectly.

Celine Song

Korean-Canadian director, playwright, and screenwriter Celine Song’s Past Lives was nominated for the Best Original Screenplay category this year. She chose to grace the red carpet in an ensemble by Loewe, exuding sophistication and a cerebral aura. However, Song also proved that a monochromatic outfit need not be boring, by pairing it with a whimsical vintage brooch on her lapel. Coming straight out of Cartier’s archives, the yellow gold jewel is set with a large yellow sapphire, accentuated by emeralds for the elephant's eyes.