Jaeger-LeCoultre has officially named Robert Pattinson as its newest Global Ambassador. Renowned for effortlessly navigating between high-concept auteur cinema and international blockbusters - with credits spanning Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Matt Reeves’ The Batman, Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 and Denis Villeneuve's upcoming Dune: Part Three - Pattinson has carved out one of the most singular careers in contemporary film. It is also his bold creative instincts, quiet discipline and utmost dedication to his craft, along with the absolute refusal to be boxed in that makes him a perfect fit with Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Known historically as the “Watchmaker of Watchmakers,” Jaeger-LeCoultre’s legacy is built not only on its technical mastery, but also on its perseverance in innovation and understated elegance — values that closely align with Pattinson’s personal ethos. Both on and off screen, the actor reflects a refined sophistication that favors character and quiet substance over excess. "A great watch isn’t just about precision – it’s about character, craftsmanship and the story behind how it’s made," Pattinson reflects on the partnership. "Jaeger-LeCoultre has always embodied that kind of quiet mastery. There’s an integrity to everything they create."
Following the official announcement, Hypebeast sat down with Pattinson for a candid conversation. The actor breaks down discovering the Master Collection at the Oscars, secretly wearing his mother's Reverso as a teenager, his ideal early morning ritual, and why he lives by the philosophy that "there are no minuses in life."
Congratulations on becoming Jaeger-LeCoultre’s newest Global Ambassador. What made the brand feel like the right fit for you?
Robert Pattinson: I was doing the Oscars, and my manager asked, "Do you want to wear a watch for the Oscars?" And I was like, "Yeah, okay." When they showed me the presentation of options, they brought out a rose gold Master Control watch from JLC. I was like, "That's literally the best watch I've ever seen in my life." I wanted to just buy it right afterwards.
Shortly after, they asked if I wanted to do a proper partnership, and I was like, "Yeah! Do I get the watch?" [Laughs] Meeting everyone at the company sealed it — they were all just great. It felt similar to when I started working with Dior. When the timing is right and you meet the right people, it’s not even a decision. The watches are so beautiful, and doing the shoot was a blast. It was definitely not a difficult choice to make.
Do you remember the first time you ever wore a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch, and what your initial reaction was to it?
My dad actually gave my mom a Reverso when I was a kid. I used to always steal it from her and wear it — and I'm pretty sure it was definitely a women's model. I got in a lot of trouble for wearing it. Even back then, when I was around 14, I thought it was so cool. I guess it’s a sign of my advanced taste beyond my age. [Laughs]
I actually wore a Reverso in The Batman, too. I really love ultra-thin watches that are incredibly subtle, but still carry that quiet "wow" factor. It’s one of the few times where you're on a red carpet and you have to do that classic "watch pose" - where you usually feel like a total moron doing it - and with this, I was naturally doing it without even being asked, like, "Oh, hello, look at the wrist!" [Laughs]
“I really love ultra-thin watches that are incredibly subtle, but still carry that quiet “wow” factor.”
Do you remember the very first watch you ever owned — one that was personally yours?
One of the producers from Star Wars actually lived next door to me while I was growing up. When I was a kid, Star Wars was obviously massive, but not quite the juggernaut it is today. He had all this incredible vintage memorabilia and ended up giving me an old Star Wars watch. I was absolutely obsessed with the movies as a kid. I still have it at home, and it’s probably crazy valuable now! I think it was an original piece from the ‘70s/ '80s. That was definitely the first watch that was truly mine.
If you could pause time for exactly one hour every single day, how would you spend that extra hour?
Right when the sun is first coming up. Finding a quiet coffee shop that’s just opening up, with maybe only one other person inside, when it's still a little cold outside. I’ll just sit there, drink a coffee, read the newspaper and have a little think. Honestly, that’s pretty much what I try to do every day anyway! But if I could guarantee two uninterrupted hours of just that, it would be perfect.
“My dad actually gave my mom a Reverso when I was a kid. I used to always steal it from her and wear it … I got in a lot of trouble for wearing it.”
What is the most important lesson that time - and getting a bit older in this industry - has taught you so far?
Learning to actually enjoy it more. It sounds simple, and a lot of people say it, but it's so easy to fall into complacency or start reinforcing a negative way of thinking. Sometimes your job is literally to be additive — to find something interesting in what you're doing, make sure everybody else is having fun, and be as helpful as possible. The more helpful you are to the people around you, the more you enjoy your own day. It took me a long time to learn that: just be a little bit more helpful.
A friend of mine who’s in the band Death Grips once told me something that always stuck with me: "There are no minuses, everything is an addition." As soon as he said it, it really connected. In life, you often think, "Oh, I can just take that mistake back." But you can't. Every single thing is an addition, and there are no take-backs. You just keep building on it.