Watch spotting in films has become somewhat of a sport for many enthusiasts. Getting a pixelated glimpse of a lug here and an applied numeral there under a cuff can send many to forums and blogs in search of the exact model. Although sometimes the identification of a watch is made a lot easier through the help of brand partnerships defining a certain amount of screen time and even social media coverage.  

While the world of brand partnerships has grown exponentially in recent years, it’s not the only way watches end up on screen. From actors seeking advice from experts to bringing their own timepieces on set, there are plenty of paths to watches appearing on the silver screen.

After a watch has been identified, the speculation as to how it got there begins. With the various ways that a watch could end up adorning a celebrity's wrist, the mystique of the how and why can lead many down a rabbit hole. Anyone on Instagram is acutely aware of the array of pages dedicated to celebrity watch spotting, as well various websites, all of which allow you to conduct your own research.

Whether organic or paid for, the value of a few seconds of screentime for a brand is undoubtedly valuable. In fact, the celebrity cachet attached has, in several instances, been immortalised in watch collecting culture.

While this is perhaps the obvious choice to start with, it would be remiss of us to talk about watches in films and not mention the world’s most famous secret agent. In the six-plus decades since the franchise's first inception, 007 has sported a handful of iconic wristwatches, which often doubled as gadgets.

When Bond first appeared on screen in 1962 in Dr. No, played by Sean Connery, a Rolex Submariner reference 6538 was on his wrist. Bond fans will instantly know that he famously wore a Rolex in the novels. Interestingly, Bond’s creator, Ian Fleming, didn’t specify which model or reference the secret agent wore, only that it was a “heavy Rolex Oyster Perpetual on an expanding bracelet.” According to popular lore, Dr. No producer Albert Broccoli lent Connery a Rolex for filming. Specifically, a highly collectible Rolex “Big Crown” Submariner reference 6538, nicknamed the “James Bond Submariner.”