The difference between Paul Mescal and most other celebrities who have the privilege of being an ambassador for a watch brand is stark. Mescal isn’t just gladly taking whatever new releases are sent his way. Zoom in on the Irish actor’s wrist and more often than not you’ll likely find an archival banger or a bonafide classic—exactly the kind of pieces that gets watch nerds excited. On his Gladiator II global press tour, the internet’s favorite tiny watch daddy has not disappointed, wearing drool-worthy Cartiers at every opportunity.
In London for the world premiere, Mescal chose a spicy 1963 Cartier Petit Santos in yellow gold with a custom black strap plucked from the Cartier Collection archive. “When we were shown [this watch], immediately it felt right for Paul for the Royal premiere in London,” says Mescal’s stylist Felicity Kay. “The combination of the small face and the vintage feel of the watch couldn’t be more perfect for Paul’s London look and the most fitting timepiece to complete what could be called a Cartier ‘mini watch’ tour for such a special moment.”
At the start of the press tour, Mescal wore a Tank Louis mini to the Academy Gala in LA, demonstrating his willingness to explore the extent of Cartier’s expanding teeny tiny roster of watches. “Mini watches occupy a special place in Cartier watchmaking, and they represent an elegant and timeless style. Delicate and refined, they embody mini versions of Cartier’s classic watchmaking aesthetics, making them very modern,” says Arnaud Carrez, Cartier’s Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President.
