While many scenes from Beckham have been made into memes and gifs in the past month, there is one in particular that points clearly to how David Beckham managed his ascent to becoming a style icon.
Pre-engagement to Posh, it’s the clip where Becks can be seen debuting the first watch he ever bought for himself – a yellow gold Rolex Yacht-Master,
which back then was considered to be pretty gauche to say the least.
“It’s a really interesting choice because it had literally only just been released when he got it,” says Andrew Morgan, an expert at WatchFinder & Co.
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In the ’90s, Rolex released the Yacht-Master as a more luxurious, curvier, polished version of the Submariner.
Rumour has it that it was originally intended to replace the Submariner because in the ’80s and ’90s Rolex realised buyers of their watches were looking for luxury rather than rugged tool watches
with oodles of capability. But allegedly, at the last minute, the Crown panicked and decided to run with the name Yacht-Master, which was used in 1969 on a never-released regatta prototype of the Cosmograph.
“It was a very unpopular watch and has only really started becoming popular in the last five years,” says Morgan. “So for David to choose it, maybe it was a rare opportunity to get a gold Rolex at a reasonable discount, rather than a gold Day-Date? After all, the Yacht-Master was new, bigger, shinier, punchier, and went well with frosted tips and for a guy who’s exploding onto the scene, perhaps he wanted to take a different approach to the stereotypical ‘footballer’s first big spend’ on a watch.”
Crucially, David Beckham has, and always will wear, what he likes rather than following trends – as the sarongs can attest. Fast forward to today and though the prospect of a yellow gold Rollie is now a lot more sought after (thanks in part to a certain trend-setter), it’ll come as no surprise the more mature Beckham hasn’t been spotted wearing a watch as flashy for some time. That doesn’t mean his watch game has dipped in form though – it’s just aged gracefully as he navigates his forties.
Morgan believes Beckham could quite easily be an ambassador for someone like Hublot, maybe even Richard Mille and wear much more expensive watches but as a household name he’s always been a pretty attainable guy. “David has always been a bit of a person of the people, he’s known to be approachable, which ties in well with Tudor,” Morgan tells GQ.
Tudor, specifically with its Black Bay models, has successfully priced them to undercut brands like Omega, Breitling, TAG Heuer, and the Black Bay 41, which Beckham recently rocked, is no exception. “Not only does this watch ape the Oyster Perpetual [Rolex’s entry-level watch], it also has that timelessness to it that feels like that’s the watch your dad had and your granddad had,” adds Morgan. “It’s simple, it’s clean and fits nicely with the persona that you can really relate to the Beckhams.” And the fact Beckham wears it on a five-link bracelet – a very close imitation of the Rolex Jubilee Bracelet – adds a splash of sophistication and a sense of occasion.
Another Tudor he’s been spotted flaunting of late is the gold and green version of the Black Bay 58. It’s another attainable piece, with just that extra degree of luxe, so that wearing it Beckham still feels like someone who is aspirational rather than just the guy down the road who’s got a similar watch you can afford.
There are numerous other gems in Beckham’s watch collection, some of which will no doubt be seen on his kids’ wrists as their tastes become more refined, but they all substantiate the fact his watches will stand the test of time. A great example of such is the Patek Philippe Grand Complications Sky Moon Celestial he bought in 2020. “It’s very expensive and very cool with the celestial display and the roving moon phase but not a very popular watch. He has chosen it because he really likes it,” says Morgan.
“If he likes a watch and he chooses to buy it, to me that means it’s a sentiment above and beyond what he thinks other people think of him, which is why I would classify him as one of the best collectors.”
