One Watch Brand Just Dominated the F1 Movie World Premiere In New York

The world premiere of F1: The Movie wasn’t just a moment for Formula 1 fans it was a star-studded spectacle where one watch brand clearly owned the moment. Big time.

Hosted in Times Square and backed by Apple Original Films and Warner Bros. Pictures, the high-octane launch event drew Hollywood and motoracing royalty alike.

While the cast and concept drew cameras, it was IWC Schaffhausen that quietly dominated the wrist game.

Javier Bardem, known for playing villains with poetic menace, turned up looking every bit the horological heavyweight in the IWC Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar 41 (Ref. IW344903).

It’s a watch that screams quiet confidence, 41mm of stainless steel, integrated bracelet, and a powerhouse perpetual calendar complication ticking away beneath a blue dial.

A perfect match for Bardem’s refined but edgy presence, the piece blends brutalist design with serious timekeeping prowess. If you’re going to wear a perpetual calendar to a movie premiere, it may as well be one inspired by engineering and with Gerald Genta’s fingerprints all over it.

With a lighter touch, Kerry Condon added some shimmer to the evening with the IWC Portofino Automatic Day & Night 34 (Ref. IW659801).

Featuring 54 diamonds and set against a radiant blue dial, the Portofino is one of IWC’s more romantic offerings, a reminder that not all watches need to scream for attention. This one’s a proper lady. Condon’s pick was a masterclass in understated glamour: precise, polished, and perfect for the lights of Times Square.

Then there was Ines de Ramon, spotted in the days leading up to the premiere on the arm of Brad Pitt and the gold standard when it comes to pulling off a statement watch casually.

Her choice? The IWC Ingenieur Automatic 35 (Ref. IW324903) in full yellow gold, a compact, minimalist sports watch that walks the line between vintage cool and modern luxury. While Pitt might’ve been the reason the paparazzi turned up, it was Ines’ watch that made us do a double-take.

For IWC, this wasn’t just a red carpet win it was strategic brand placement at its finest.

The brand has long leaned into motorsport with its partnership with Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1, but this premiere blurred the line between the paddock and the paparazzi.

The IWC Ingenieur has already been enjoying a quiet renaissance since its relaunch last year, and seeing it on the wrists of both Bardem and de Ramon; in steel and gold, it feels like confirmation it’s back in the cultural spotlight.

The F1 movie drops in cinemas on June 25th.