There’s something about English actors that exudes elegance. Take, for instance, The Theory of Everything star Eddie Redmayne. The Eton educated (he was a classmate of Prince William’s) actor is known for foppish fashion flourishes such as the velvet tux he wore to pick up his Best Actor award at the 2015 Golden Globes. At the same time, he balances these outré looks with impeccably posh touches, like his Chopard Classic Manufacture watch.
Chopard has been producing precision timepieces since 1860. Introduced in 2012, the Classic Manufacture was designed to evoke the look of a Belle Époque era pocket watch—note the porcelain-type dial, the black lacquer Roman numerals, the small seconds subdial surrounded by a ‘rail track’ and the slender gold-toned hands. This simple face is framed by a clean, 38mm 18k rose gold case. A matte black alligator strap caps off this vintage look.
Redmayne has cultivated an old money look, but he also comes from a tradition of innovation in engineering: His great grandfather Sir Richard Redmayne was knighted for his work in mine safety. And the Classic Manufacture is likewise powered by Chopard’s decades of experience in design and development. The in-house automatic Caliber 01.04-C movement packs 27 jewels and 199 parts into a 28.8 by 4.95 mm mini engine with an approximately 60-hour power reserve. You may wonder why watch aficionados go on and on about in house movements. It’s because so few manufactures actually make their own mechanisms. A see-through sapphire case back lets you admire the ingenuity of Chopard’s watchmakers.
The actor’s obvious on-camera skills plus his red carpet style are the recipe for what is sure to be a long, successful Hollywood career.
