The Watches of Donald Glover

Actor, musician, and producer Donald Glover, also known by his stage name Childish Gambino, has a distinctive personal style that combines classic and contemporary elements. Once named GQ’s Best Dressed Man, Donald unleashes his creativity through fashion, opting for vintage-inspired outfits, bold prints, and bright colors that reflect his personality. He balances it out with timeless classics on his wrist. Check out the watches of multi-hyphenate Donald Glover, on and off screen.

Cartier Tank Louis Burgundy

Donald rocked the recent Emmy Awards wearing an ensemble very few could pull off a velvet flower-embroidered suit and heeled leather opera pumps. Such a fashion-forward attire called for a stylish watch, and any piece from the house of Cartier would have fit the bill. His pick was a 2023 Tank Louis Cartier in yellow gold.

This iteration was created to bring a colorful and modern look to the existing Tank concept from 1917. Minimalistic but far from boring, its burgundy lacquered face is embellished with just the central hour and minute hands, and the Cartier signature in a complementing gold finish. Under the hood is the manual-wind Caliber 1917 MC, which stores a reliable 38-hour power reserve. The Tank Must ref WSTA0054, pictured above, offers a similar feel but with a steel finish. Photo from GQ Magazine on Twitter

Cartier Santos-Dumont

The actor and musician seems to have an affinity for show-stopping timepieces. For his guesting on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, he sported a superbly elegant version of the Cartier Santos-Dumont. This Santos-Dumont is renowned as the world’s first men’s wristwatch with a rich aviation-inspired legacy dating back to 1904.

Donald chose a model from the Watches and Wonders 2022 novelties. Its beige lacquered bezel blends beautifully with the warm tone of the rose gold base metal, while the sapphire-tipped crown creates a sharply contrasting highlight. Cartier’s signature railtrack and Roman numerals are also present on the champagne dial, while the lacquered concentric squares all over its surface give it an immense visual depth. Photos from Cartier and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Instagram

Cartier Tank Francaise

Donald, whose style is both chic and experimental, wore a bright yellow ensemble for the 2023 premiere of his TV series, Swarm. Topping off his look is a modern but sporty take on the classic Cartier Tank – the Tank Francaise in yellow gold.

The watch comes in the French maison’s Large size with dimensions of 28.0 x 32.0mm. It also has a silver Art Deco-inspired dial with black Roman numerals and blued hands, and an automatic movement under the case. The watch has an angular body and chain-link band that give it a sportier style, and it’s also remarkably functional, with water resistance up to 100 feet. Photo from Ilaria Urbinati on Instagram

Cartier Santos

Donald currently headlines Amazon Prime Video’s newest series, Mr. Mrs. Smith. In an interview to promote his newest project, he was spotted with a stunning Cartier Santos on his wrist. 

One of the updated Santos models released in 2018, the watch in question is made entirely of 18k yellow gold. At 38.9mm x 47.5mm, it was the perfect complement to the multi-hyphenate creative’s black and white outfit. The rest of the timepiece is classic Santos: the squarish ergonomic casing, the exposed screws on the exteriors, and the black Roman numerals on the silver dial. Photo from Prime Video on Instagram

Rolex GMT-Master Pepsi

The Redbone singer’s watch collection comprises of iconic timepieces beyond Cartier. He also owns a Rolex GMT-Master – and a highly sought-after model at that. In one of Mr. Mrs. Smith’s scenes, we see Donald wear a vintage 1675 reference.

This watch was produced from 1959 to 1980 and is defined by a steel finish and a “Pepsi” 24-hour bezel made of aluminum. Considered the emblematic GMT-Master, it was also the first model from the line to feature pointed guards on the side of the case to protect the crown. Donald swapped the original metal bracelet for a tan leather strap, reflecting his eclectic style. Photo from Mr. Mrs. Smith on Instagram

Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso

Donald always steps into the spotlight wearing sensational menswear, and his cover for British GQ’s Global Creativity Awards was no different. The 40-year-old American actor donned a fun Hermès scarf as his top and paired it with the ever-iconic Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso in rose gold. 

As versatile as it is practical, the watch is famed for its sleek rectangular body and unique reversible design. Donald wore the reverse gray dial side, which boasts a recessed inner face with guilloche patterns around the perimeter and day-night sub-dial at 6 o’clock. Keeping the dial minimal, only the Reverso’s hallmark traits are visible on the silver opposite side, such as the railway-style minute track, sword-style rose gold indices, and dauphine hands. Photo from British GQ on Twitter

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

Donald is not the only one who has developed a passion for collecting watches: John, his character in Mr. Mrs. Smith, is also a big watch guy. He mostly wears Rolex’s acclaimed models such as the Daytona and GMT-Master yet he also has a timepiece that embodies quiet luxury – the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. 

The actor has the 41mm stainless steel version, made more striking with a black Tapisserie watch face and lume-filled raised baton indices. The eight exposed screws and integrated bracelet add interest to the sports-chic design. Blending pioneering design with fine craftsmanship the art of watchmaking, this watch provides balance and edge to Donald’s outfits in the program. Video from Prime Video on YouTube