For over 40 years, Tom Cruise has played many roles—navy pilot, sports agent, secret agent—but one constant has quietly followed him: his enduring love for Rolex watches.
From Rain Man to Cocktail, Cruise has often used Rolex to reflect a character’s ambition or status. In Rain Man (1988), his character Charlie Babbitt wore a gold Rolex Day-Date, a classic symbol of success. That same year, in Cocktail, he wore a steel Rolex Air-King, complementing his role as an ambitious bartender.
Off-screen, Cruise’s personal choices speak volumes. One of his go-to pieces has been a Rolex Datejust ref. 16200. With a stainless steel case, white Roman numeral dial, and smooth bezel, it’s a traditional and understated choice.
He’s also worn the Sky-Dweller ref. 326934, a travel-ready watch that suits Cruise’s global lifestyle. In recent years, however, his tastes have become more daring. Notable additions include the Rolex Daytona ref. 116500LN with a black and white “panda” dial, and the white gold GMT-Master II “Pepsi,” both favorites among collectors.
This week, while promoting the newest Mission: Impossible film, Cruise added a cosmic twist to his watch game. He was seen wearing a white gold Rolex Day-Date 40 featuring a meteorite dial — a rare and highly prized version of Rolex’s flagship model.
The meteorite dial is carved from the Gibeon meteorite, which landed in Namibia. Its unique crystalline patterns, called Widmanstätten structures, were formed over millions of years as the rock cooled in space. No two dials are the same, making each watch one of a kind.
This Day-Date is powered by Rolex’s advanced caliber 3255 movement and includes a fluted bezel and the brand’s iconic President bracelet in white gold. Rolex only uses meteorite dials in its most prestigious pieces, usually in platinum or 18ct gold. These watches are hard to get, with extremely limited production due to material scarcity. Some meteorite models have already been discontinued, driving secondary market prices even higher.
The Day-Date 40 with meteorite dial retails in the UK for around £48,350—if you can find one. For most, it means joining a long waitlist.
But when you’re Tom Cruise, skipping the queue comes with the territory.
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