The Leading Man and the Maison: Ryan Gosling and TAG Heuer

Many serious watch enthusiasts aren’t all that keen on brand ambassadors. Perhaps it’s the concept of a transactional relationship that puts people off. The signing of a contract and hiring of a wrist to sell a watch. But every so often, a union is forged that mirrors the timepiece’s vocation so precisely that it feels entirely organic. Such can be said of the relationship that has blossomed between avant-garde watchmaker TAG Heuer and Hollywood actor Ryan Gosling. Since joining the family in 2021, Gosling has brought a sense of cinematic drama to one of the brand’s most iconic collections. Intrigued? Read on…

Charting Gosling and TAG’s Cinematic Ascent

To understand the depth of this partnership, one must first understand the man himself. Ryan Gosling’s stoic performance in Drive and the musical whimsy of La La Land (for which he won a Golden Globe), not to mention his role in the subversive comedic brilliance of Barbie, have made him a modern hero in the classic sense. This blend of timeless charisma and willingness to push boundaries has made him the ideal counterpart to TAG Heuer, a brand that has spent over 160 years balancing tradition with radical innovation.

Over recent years, this relationship has evolved from a standard endorsement to an active creative collaboration. And Gosling has this innate ability to immerse himself in the storytelling process of a film’s narrative; a commitment that was nowhere more apparent than in the high-octane spectacle of The Chase for Carrera – a short film released to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Jack Heuer’s most famous creation. Filmed in Sydney during the production of The Fall Guy, this action-comedy short saw Gosling playing a heightened version of himself, engaged in a high-octane pursuit to keep his beloved timepiece. It was a masterclass in stunt work, directed by Nash Edgerton and produced in collaboration with David Leitch’s 87 North. More importantly, it re-established the Carrera’s rightful place amidst the high-octane world of cinema, a natural habitat from which the collection had arguably become estranged.

Furthermore, Gosling’s involvement has extended to the red carpet in ways that have genuinely surprised the horological community. His willingness to embrace the "Kenergy" of his Barbie role led to some of the most daring wristwear choices seen at the Academy Awards in recent history. By opting for avant-garde, diamond-set pieces, Gosling demonstrated that a serious tool-watch manufacturer could also be a purveyor of high glamour, interweaving the persona of the rugged stuntman with the polished superstar.

It is, however, the watches themselves that tell the truest story of this special partnership. Gosling has curated a selection of TAG Heuer models that reflect the multifaceted nature of his career, and with the Gosling's portrayal as Ryland Grace in “Project Hail Mary” on the horizon, there would seem no better time to showcase some of his favourite timepieces than now.

TAG Heuer Carrera Three Hands (Ref. WBN2111.BA0639)

When Ryan Gosling stepped into the shoes of Court Gentry, the shadowy CIA operative known as Sierra Six in the Netflix blockbuster The Grey Man (2022), the choice of wristwear was critical. A spy requires a reliable instrument that offers precision without attracting undue attention.

Thus, the watch selected for the role was the TAG Heuer Carrera Three Hands (Ref. WBN2111.BA0639) – a 39mm stainless steel model, perfectly proportioned and adhering to the classic dimensions Jack Heuer championed in the 1960s for ergonomic comfort. The watch cleverly eschews the busy subdials of a chronograph in favour of a clean, silver sunray-brushed dial, which catches the light with a subtle, mercurial gleam. Legibility, of course, is a non-negotiable attribute for any man dodging international assassins, so rhodium-plated hands and applied indices were chosen for this design before being treated with Super-LumiNova to ensure that time can be read at a glance.

Inside the case beats the Calibre 5 Automatic movement. While it may lack the complex architecture of a split-seconds chronograph, the Calibre 5 is a workhorse of proven reliability, vibrating at 28,800 vph and offering a 38-hour power reserve. Furthermore, the H-shaped stainless steel bracelet fitted to this watch, no doubt, proved a robust yet comfortable fit for Gosling’s wrist during filming, integrating seamlessly with the case lugs to create a sharp, architectural silhouette. In The Grey Man, the watch becomes an extension of Gosling’s character thanks to its efficiency, its resilience, and its ability to conceal a high-performance heart beneath its cool, steely exterior.

TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph (CBS2210.FC6534)

For his role as Colt Seavers, a battle-hardened stuntman returning to the fray, Gosling required a timepiece that could withstand the rigours of the job while paying homage to the automotive heritage of the beloved Carrera name. The watch of choice was the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph "Glassbox" (Ref. CBS2210.FC6534), which represented a significant evolution in the Carrera lineage. The watch marked the iconic collection’s 60th birthday and featured a “Glassbox” domed sapphire crystal that extended fully around the bezel. The design promised a unique, uninhibited view of the dial from all angles, while also mimicking the Hesalite crystals of the 1970s. This ingenious design feature also allowed the tachymeter scale to be printed on the flange under the glass, making it readable from extreme angles when under pressure, particularly for someone like a stunt driver who might appreciate this type of legibility while drifting a muscle car.

A closer inspection of the dial reveals that this model is a faithful nod to the historic Reference 2447 NS, featuring a "reverse panda" configuration with a black circular-brushed background and silver "azurage" subdials.

This design certainly screams 1960s motorsport, however, the engine within is thoroughly modern. The watch is powered by the TH20-00 in-house movement, an evolution of the Heuer 02. This automatic column-wheel chronograph boasts an impressive 80-hour power reserve and bidirectional winding, ensuring that even after a long weekend off set, the watch remained ready for action. The date window, unusually positioned at 12 o'clock, also restores the symmetry of the tri-compax layout and remains one of its most compelling features, along with a black perforated calfskin strap inspired by the racing gloves and rally straps worn during the "golden era" of motorsport.

TAG Heuer Carrera Automatic Chronograph (CBN2013.FC6483)

Away from the pyrotechnics of the film set, Ryan Gosling’s personal taste in horology leans towards the refined and the classically handsome. An example would be the TAG Heuer Carrera Automatic Chronograph (Ref. CBN2013.FC6483) – a 43mm model crafted from stainless steel with the same angular lugs and sharp lines that have long defined one of the company’s most popular collections. Even so, this watch interprets the Carrera DNA through a dressier lens with a crisp, expansive silver sunray canvas that provides a high-contrast backdrop for the 5N rose-gold-plated hands and applied indices. The combination of steel and rose gold accents creates a bi-metallic aesthetic without the ostentation of a solid-gold case, promising to pair just as comfortably with a velvet tuxedo as with a cashmere sweater.

Functionally, the watch is driven by the formidable Calibre Heuer 02 manufacture movement. Visible through the sapphire caseback, its column-wheel chronograph movement is a piece of modern industrial art, featuring a vertical clutch for smooth engagement of the chronograph seconds hand without any undesirable drag. The 80-hour power reserve is again present, a standard of modern luxury that TAG Heuer has democratised across its higher-end offerings.

Gosling wears this piece on a brown alligator leather strap, a choice that enhances its vintage appeal and the warm lustre of those attractive rose gold accents. It is a watch that acknowledges the racing roots of the Carrera, but dresses them up for the gala dinner rather than the pit lane, thus it has been the watch of choice for Gosling when attending some of his more sophisticated promotional events in late 2022, early 2023.

TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant d'Avant-Garde (36mm)

Lastly, there’s the Oscars, where the 96th Academy Awards saw Ryan Gosling deliver a performance of "I’m Just Ken" that will likely go down in history as one of the ceremony's most memorable moments. To complete the occasion, only an electric, disruptive and avant-garde timepiece would do. Enter the TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant d'Avant-Garde.

Housed in a modest 36mm white gold case, the watch showcases the maison's pioneering "Diamant d'Avant-Garde" technology, which utilises Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) to create lab-grown diamonds of unique shapes and colours. The dial is a polycrystalline diamond plate, a glittering field of crystals that catch the light in a manner reminiscent of a disco ball, perfectly befitting the “Kenergy” aesthetic. However, the true marvel lies in the pink diamonds. A 1.3-carat pink lab-grown diamond is incorporated directly into the crown, cut from a single stone, while a shield-shaped pink diamond adorns the dial, serving as the brand's logo. The concept of the lab-grown diamond certainly challenges the traditionalist view of gem-setting, offering a sustainable yet chemically identical alternative to mined stones. In wearing it, Gosling effortlessly merged Swiss precision with pure Hollywood fun.

As Banks Lyon continues to curate the finest timepieces for its clientele, the TAG Heuer collection, bolstered by its authentic Hollywood connections, remains an excellent choice for anyone looking for effortless, modern luxury

All RRPs and 0% finance options are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.