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Five Rolexes stood out around the 2017 Academy Awards, from Jason Bateman’s reported 1979 vintage Daytona to a blue Submariner spotted on Will Arnett at the Vanity Fair after-party. The identifications range from a named reference to visual guesses, so the distinctions matter: not every watch was worn onstage, and several reference numbers remain tentative.
Why Rolex was part of the 2017 Oscars conversation
The 89th Academy Awards took place on 26 February 2017, the first year Rolex sponsored the Academy Awards, according to Time+Tide’s 2017 roundup. In a press release dated 1 February, Rolex said it would sponsor the Oscars broadcast and be the exclusive Greenroom sponsor for the second consecutive year. The release quoted Rolex Director of Communication & Image Arnaud Boetsch: “The Academy Awards and Rolex recognize and uphold excellence.” That brand statement provides context for the sponsorship, not evidence identifying any particular watch.
Five watches spotted around the 89th Academy Awards
Time+Tide’s feature by Felix Scholz, published 28 February 2017, identifies five watches associated with the event. The reference-number certainty varies: the roundup names one confidently, reports one without a reference, and qualifies three as likely, apparent, or probable identifications.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Rolex Wristwatches: An Unauthorized History (A Schiffer Book for Collectors) | $87.14 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Rolex: 3,621 Wristwatches | $58.91 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Rolex, Pre-loved Blue Stainless Steel Floral Dial Datejust 278274 31mm, Blue | $15,250.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Rolex, Pre-loved Black Stainless Steel Submariner 5513 40mm, Black | $21,000.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Rolex: Investing in Wristwatches | $65.69 | Buy on Amazon |
Jason Bateman — vintage Rolex Daytona
Bateman wore a vintage Daytona while presenting onstage with Kate McKinnon. In a GQ interview cited by the roundup, he said the watch dated to 1979 and was not a Paul Newman model. No reference number is given, so assigning one would go beyond the identification. The article also reports that Bateman traded a Sea-Dweller and a Franck Muller, plus cash, to acquire it.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWill Arnett — Submariner ref. 116619LB, “Smurf”
Arnett was photographed with a blue Rolex Submariner at the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party. Time+Tide identifies it as ref. 116619LB, often nicknamed the “Smurf.” This was an after-party appearance, not a claim that he wore the watch during the ceremony.
#1 Best Overall
- Used Book in Good Condition
Jason Derulo — customized diamond-set Datejust
Derulo’s watch is described as an older white-gold Datejust with Roman numerals and a customized, fully diamond-set case on an Oyster bracelet. The roundup suggests it was likely ref. 16019; that reference identification is not definitive.
Ryan Gosling — vintage Rolex, possibly ref. 5500 Air-King
Gosling’s watch is described visually as a vintage Rolex with a champagne dial, a 34 mm Oyster case, and a 3-6-9 dial layout. Time+Tide says it “looks to be” a ref. 5500 Air-King and appears to be the same watch he wore at the Golden Globes earlier in 2017. Both the model and continuity identification are visual readings from the roundup, rather than independently authenticated findings.
Rank #2
- Schiffer Publishing
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Ryan Seacrest — vintage Daytona, probably ref. 6263
Seacrest wore a vintage Daytona that Time+Tide identifies as probably ref. 6263. The article also notes that he wore the same vintage Daytona at the previous year’s Oscars. The reference attribution remains tentative.
What the five watches have in common—and what differs
The roundup spans vintage Daytona appearances, a blue Submariner, a visually distinctive customized Datejust, and a tentative Air-King identification. The strongest model-level detail is Bateman’s reported 1979 Daytona, for which no reference is supplied; Arnett’s Submariner is identified by reference as 116619LB. Derulo’s, Gosling’s, and Seacrest’s reference numbers are qualified rather than certain. These are event-era visual and interview-based identifications, not a comparative authentication or valuation.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- Pre-Loved Condition: Excellent; Light scratching throughout hardware
- 40mm
- Made in Switzerland
- Flip-lock clasp
- Signature upon delivery required
Rank #3
- Pre-Loved Condition: Excellent; Faint scratching to hardware
- 31mm
- Made in Switzerland
- Hidden Crown Clasp
- Signature upon delivery required
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