Paul Mescal Is Living Out Every Cartier Lover's Dream on the Red Carpet

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.

Petit Santos wristwatch, Cartier Paris 1963 Vincent Wulveryck, Collection Cartier © Cartier

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.

Back in October, Cartier hosted a cozy dinner for the cast of Gladiator II in London. For the occasion, Mescal scrubbed up in a bespoke suit from Etch Suits. And on his wrist? A vintage 18k-gold Cartier Gondole. The vertical model from 1977 on a black leather strap is classic Cartier to its core. It’s got an oblong construction, Roman numerals, and the all-important sapphire crown. In the Cartierverse, this bad boy doesn’t shout as loud as Tanks or the Santos de Cartier, so the fact that Mescal is repping one says a lot about his watch tastes. And actively looking back at vintage watches for his public appearances puts him deep into fanboy territory.

When Gladiator II premiered in Australia, Mescal leant into his movie star status with a chill Gucci tux and shades. Wielding a sharpie rather than a sword, his mini Cartier de Baignoire got a fair bit of air time, looking right at home on his wrist, and representing what Carrez describes "as a style and refinement that is so synonymous to Cartier”.

The Baignoire debuted in 1912, and became a quietly hyped piece of bathtub-shaped wrist candy, winning over the likes of George Harrison and eventually Tyler, the Creator in its 112-year history. Mescal’s decision to wear this model shows his appreciation for Cartier’s history, with yet another timepiece tied to the brand’s DNA making a primetime appearance. “For me, it’s the subtle details of a look that pulls everything together, I’m obsessed with getting the small things really right,” says Kay. “The beautiful miniature watch faces of the Baignoire and Tank Louis Cartier timepieces paired perfectly with the authentic, tailored looks we were going for.”

For the Gladiator II festivities in Dublin, Mescal wore his personal watch, a vintage square Cartier Incurvee, which makes sense for the hometown crowd. Released in the ‘60s, it’s a rare version of the Tank designed by Louis Cartier inspired by the Renault Tanks he spotted during WW1. The IYKYK flex flies below the radar, subtly distancing itself from the pack with its tonneau-shaped case. Chuck it on an easy-wearing black leather strap and you’ve got a watch you can wear way beyond red carpet appearances.

But the most notable thing about Paul Mescal's recent watch game is how natural it's been. There have been no awkward ‘bent arm in front of chest’ watch poses or elaborate attempts to garner more attention to his wrist area (see Jonathan Bailey for inspiration). The star of Gladiator II seems to take it all in his stride, breezing through each appearance as though it's a literal walk in the park. And according to Kay, there's a simple reason for that. “There is no difference between his day-to-day choices with those he wears on the red carpet,” she says. “They really can do both.”

This story originally appeared on British GQ.