FeatureTake a Sneak-Peek into Robert Downey Jr.’s illustrious watch collection

“Steve Rogers: Big man in a suit of armour. Take that off, what are you?
Tony Stark: Genius, Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist”

-The Avengers (2012)

Witty remarks, dynamic character and super self-confidence are words that we would associate with the ever-evolving character of Anthony Edward “Tony” Stark. We have in the last few years seen the Iron Man transcend from a selfish, empowered prick to a selfless, planet-saving hero. However, Tony Stark, aka Iron Man is not short of flaws and Robert Downey Jr., the actor inside the Iron Suit has given the film adaptation of Marvel’s comic book hero “Iron Man” a rather complicated persona, with grey character attributes.

Robert Downey Jr. is a highly-regarded American actor with a tumultuous personal life. You can love him or hate him but you just cannot ignore the eccentric actor with his dark brooding looks and rock-star lifestyle along with his past bouts with drugs, jail and rehabilitation.

While many may think, the world’s highest-paid actor draws his infectious self-confidence, bordering on arrogance, persona from his on-screen alter ego (read: Tony Stark), in a recent interview, Robert Downey Jr. exclaimed, “You can learn a lot about a man if you open up his jewellery box.” So I’m guessing here, he draws as much confidence from the Robert Downey Jr.’s Illustrious Watch Collection (read: a man’s jewellery box) as much as Tony Stark does from his cool gadgets and the much coveted suits.

During the last few years, we have seen Mr. Downey Jr. sport spectacular timepieces especially from Jaeger-LeCoultre on his wrist. Here is a list of watches that completes the smart, witty and charismatic man- Robert Downey Jr., along with some special recommendations from The Watch Guide team, painstakingly hand-picked just for you, our lovely readers!

1. The One That Travels: Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic® Universal Time

For the Paris premiere of Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War, Robert Downey Jr. was clicked wearing a Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic® Universal Time in stainless steel. A perfect accessory that encapsulates Robert’s jet-setting, stylish life.

The Geophysic® Universal Time launched in 2015 created a new milestone in the history of Jaeger-LeCoultre with clever functionality and clean designs. A sophisticated timepiece that enables the user to read the time in all 24 time zones simultaneously. A round watch with simple lines, it’s powered by calibre 772.

The dial is also engraved with the continents and oceans that are displayed in blue lacquer. The watch is a great invitation to travel, which is perfect not just for Robert Downey Jr. but anybody who has an immense love for travelling. An inspirational watch that brings the whole world to your wrist, the Geophysic® Universal Time steel watch is sophistication personified with an elegantly designed dial that will definitely make every journey a pleasure.

With an attractive complication like the world time and an intricately designed map-style dial, the Jager-LeCoultre Geophysic® Universal Time with an addition of the True Second-hand makes this particular watch special.

2. The One Most Favoured: Jaeger-LeCoultre Amvox5 World Chronograph

Robert Downey Jr. has sported a Jaeger-LeCoultre one too many times at different occasions. During the promotions of the third instalment of the Iron Man movie franchise, Robert Downey Jr. was seen sporting a Jaeger-LeCoultre Amvox 5 World Chronograph. An aesthetically appealing timepiece that was made in a limited edition of 300 pieces, the watch features an open worked dial with a grid work motif that takes inspiration from the radiator grilles on an Aston Martin.

This is a watch that combines perfectly with the actor’s character. Like him, the Amvox collection combines the power of style with refinement and performance.

TWG Recommends: Jaeger-LeCoultre Amvox5 World Chronograph set in Gold

The Amvox 5 World Chronograph is an amazing piece of Haute Horlogerie, the fifth instalment of the partnership between Jaeger-LeCoultre and Aston Martin. The letters A and M in the word AMVOX denotes the initial letters of the brand Aston Martine and VOX stands for the famous Memovox (a Jaeger-LeCoultre creation of 1950/51 that had two separate crowns that allowed one to manually wind and set the alarm and watch). A first of its kind, the Amvox 5 features a chronograph with world time functions. The interesting dial consists of luminescent white numerals and hour-markers that are arranged in a 270° sweep with an openwork dial. Inspired by an Aston Martin, the watch features motifs from the auto-brand which also includes a movement operating indicator at 6 o’clock. The inner bezel houses a chapter ring with 24 cities and their time zones.

(Fun Fact: Among the 24 cities featured on the inner bezel, “London” has been replaced with “Gaydon”, the town where Aston Martin is based, to echo the long-standing relationship and partnership that the two brands share).

A testament of remarkable technical characteristics, the watch is powered by a mechanical Calibre 752 movement that boasts of accuracy and sturdiness. Made of high-tech ceramic and 18-carat pink gold, the watch is a joy on the wrist with a priceless style value. Limited to just 200 pieces, the refined dial details merged with beautiful mechanics makes this watch a perfect companion on the wrist!

3. The One With Two Faces: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Medium Duetto in Rose Gold

For a man who is as eccentric and charismatic as Robert Downey Jr., it comes as a surprise that he would choose a classic timepiece like the Reverso to adorn his wrist. But then again, we all agree that “no one can go wrong with a Reverso” and it works for Robert Downey Jr. as well. He looks immaculately stylish and surprisingly, the Reverso stands out more as a fashionable icon on him than a classic one! The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso pays tribute to the noblest of traditions and keeps re-inventing itself pursuing perfection tirelessly.

The dual dials resonate with Robert Downey’s alter ego Tony Stark, and how he and Stark are like two peas in a pod. One just cannot survive without the other. The Reverso Classic Medium Duetto in pink gold is an authentic watchmaking gem that looks as stylish as the man wearing it.

TWG Recommends: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Medium Duetto

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classic Medium Duetto in stainless steel is a watch that falls under the category of classic timepieces. A watch that never gets old. Introduced to mark the 85^th birthday of the brand, the watch offers a new vision of the Reverso with easily recognisable features.

The watch ensures great user friendliness with a penchant to satisfy the wearer’s whims and fantasies by just turning over the case. Housing a self-winding movement Calibre 968A, the watch offers an hour and minute function on the front and reverse side. While the front dial is silvered with guilloché and black transferred numerals, the back dial is black in colour with a guilloché and sun-ray brushed dial with a frosted minute scale.

The Reverso is a marvellous piece of Haute Horlogerie to wear, own and admire. A definite keeper not just for you but for all your future generations to come!

4. The One From Outer-Space: Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional

Finally a watch that is not a Jaeger-LeCoultre. Phew! Mr. Downey Jr. has been sporting a Jeager-LeCoultre in almost all of his movies and premier outings. Despite the many other incredible timepieces that he has sported in the last few years, other than Jaeger-LeCoultre, I decided to feature an Omega Speedmaster for the last watch in this list. He recently described this particular watch as “a lovely timepiece, which is very sporty”. The Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional is an iconic timepiece that holds a legendary position in the world of watches. A must-have in every watch collector’s treasury, the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional holds a revered position in Mr. Downey Jr.’s prized watch collection. He has been clicked sporting the Speedy many times, teaming it up with casual clothes and well-tailored suits for numerous red carpet events.

TWG Recommends: Omega Speedmaster Professional “Moonphase” Chronograph 

One of the most iconic timepieces of the century, Omega Speedmaster Professional “Moonphase” Chronograph is delicately designed with iconic representation of the brand’s adventurous spirit. The black dial of the watch houses a small-seconds sub-dial with a 30-minute and 12-hour recorder.

It also entails a central chronograph hand with a fourth sub-dial at 12 o’clock that has a moon phase and date function. The stainless steel case with a black bezel is the perfect representation of a classic watch. The black bezel with the tachymeter scale is a pleasant addition to the watch, making the dial look more interesting without crowding the overall clarity of the dial. Powered by Omega’s manual-winding chronograph movement, Calibre 1866, the watch clocks in a power reserve of up to 48 hours.

The see-through case back enables the wearer to witness the intricate workings of the movement by just turning your watch. The Omega Speedmaster Professional “Moonphase” Chronograph is a watch that will blend easily from a formal dinner to a relaxing day at the beach.

So there you go folks, a carefully curated list of watches that not only defines the charismatic Robert Downey Jr. but could also be definitive of who you are and how you see yourself. So make a choice (preferably at Ethoswatches.com) and add these amazing timepieces to your collection and maybe, just like Mr. Robert Downey Jr. here, you could master the art of beauty, style and charisma with a pinch of eccentricity!