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What Watches Do Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May Wear?

Clarkson is most associated with an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean, Hammond with watches including the likely Rolex Explorer II 16570, and May with Rolex, Omega, IWC and a likely G-Shock.
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There is no single “Top Gear watch.” Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have each been associated with several watches across Top Gear and the later specials. Clarkson’s most persistent association is the large Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean; Hammond’s reported choices include the Omega Speedmaster, Breitling Navitimer, Rolex Explorer II and Tissot T-Touch; May has been identified with Rolex, Omega, IWC and, in Sand Job, a likely Casio G-Shock.

Jeremy Clarkson’s watches

Omega Seamaster Professional and Planet Ocean

Older Top Gear episodes show Clarkson wearing an Omega Seamaster Professional, according to a 2014 watch feature. Later episodes are more strongly associated with an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean.

In the 2024 coverage of The Grand Tour special Sand Job, the watch is identified as a likely early Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m. The reported characteristics are a 45.5 mm steel case, black dial and bezel, and Omega calibre 2500. The reference is given as 2900.50.81, but the identification is inferred from television images rather than confirmed by Clarkson or Omega.

IWC Pilot Chronograph Top Gun

Clarkson has also been seen wearing an IWC Pilot Chronograph Top Gun Edition. The available identification establishes the model family, not a complete ownership history or a currently confirmed reference.

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Richard Hammond’s watches

Omega Speedmaster and Breitling Navitimer

A 2014 feature identifies Hammond with an Omega Speedmaster and a Breitling Navitimer. Both are established chronograph or pilot-watch designs, fitting the practical, instrument-like watches often associated with his on-screen style.

Rolex Explorer II 16570

In Sand Job, Hammond appears to wear a vintage Rolex Explorer II with a white dial. Monochrome’s 2024 identification calls reference 16570 the most likely model. That reference was produced from 1989 to 2011 and has a 40 mm case. Because the reference is read from footage, “likely” is more accurate than treating 16570 as confirmed.

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Tissot T-Touch

Grand Tour Nation reports Hammond wearing a solar-powered Tissot T-Touch in several specials. The reported specification is a titanium case and sapphire crystal. The sources do not establish one exact T-Touch reference or a current retail price.

James May’s watches

Rolex, Omega and IWC

May’s previously identified watches include a Rolex Milgauss, an Omega Seamaster Chrono Quartz and an IWC Portuguese Chronograph. This is a notably broad mix: Rolex and IWC represent high-end mechanical watchmaking in the reported examples, while the Seamaster Chrono Quartz is historically interesting for its quartz movement and chronograph format.

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The likely G-Shock in Sand Job

In the 2024 Sand Job report, May appears to wear a teal-green, semi-transparent Casio G-Shock, likely the DW-5600SB-3. Monochrome describes it as the most accessible watch in the trio’s reported selections and gives an approximate price of $110 at the time of that report. That figure is a 2024 report, not a guaranteed current price, and the model identification remains likely rather than officially confirmed.

The G-Shock’s presence does not prove that May abandoned his more expensive watches. It shows that the watches seen on screen can change with the setting: a compact, shock-resistant digital watch is a sensible choice for a desert special even when the wearer is also associated with Rolex, Omega and IWC.

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How the three presenters’ reported watches compare

Presenter Reported or likely models Movement information Case size or wrist presence Features and intended use Accessibility evidence
Jeremy Clarkson Omega Seamaster Professional; Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m, likely reference 2900.50.81; IWC Pilot Chronograph Top Gun Edition Planet Ocean identification reports Omega calibre 2500; movement details for the other identifications are not stated Likely Planet Ocean: 45.5 mm steel case; visually large on the wrist Diver styling and 600 m water-resistance designation for the Planet Ocean; pilot chronograph styling for the IWC Current price not stated
Richard Hammond Omega Speedmaster; Breitling Navitimer; Rolex Explorer II, likely reference 16570; solar Tissot T-Touch Solar power is reported for the T-Touch; movement details for the other watches are not stated Likely Explorer II 16570: 40 mm case Chronograph, aviation and travel/tool-watch designs; Explorer II includes a 24-hour-oriented identity Current prices not stated
James May Rolex Milgauss; Omega Seamaster Chrono Quartz; IWC Portuguese Chronograph; Casio G-Shock DW-5600SB-3, likely Seamaster Chrono Quartz is quartz; movement details for the other reported models are not stated G-Shock is a compact digital tool watch; exact dimensions were not stated in the report Mechanical chronograph and sport-watch options alongside a shock-resistant digital watch for demanding travel Likely G-Shock: about $110 in the 2024 report; current price not stated

What can—and cannot—be confirmed from television appearances

  • Most identifications come from photographs or broadcast footage, so bezel details, dial variants and references can be difficult to distinguish.
  • “Reported,” “identified as” and “likely” describe the evidence accurately; they do not establish a complete list of watches owned by any presenter.
  • No authoritative source establishes the size of any presenter’s collection, the number of watches owned or whether a particular screen appearance reflects personal ownership, a loan or a one-off choice.
  • Model names can cover several generations. A reported Omega Seamaster, for example, does not by itself specify a single reference or movement.
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James May on why watches still matter

In a 21 November 2012 essay published by Top Gear, May argued that a wristwatch remains useful despite clocks in phones and household devices:

“Knowing the right time is unbelievably empowering, and even though just about every domestic appliance and pocket electronic device incorporates a clock, the wrist is still the best place to display it.”

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He also wrote:

“A watch is the most exquisite of machines, and it’s always with you.”

Those lines help explain the range of watches associated with him: the appeal is not limited to luxury branding. A quartz chronograph, a traditional mechanical watch and an inexpensive G-Shock can all serve different ideas of usefulness, engineering and context.

The clearest differences between Clarkson, Hammond and May

Size and wrist presence

Clarkson’s likely 45.5 mm Planet Ocean has the most overtly oversized presence in the reported group. Hammond’s likely Explorer II is a more conventional 40 mm. May’s G-Shock is visually distinctive but was chosen as a practical digital tool rather than a statement of luxury scale.

Mechanical, quartz and solar approaches

The reported watches span several technologies: Omega calibre 2500 in Clarkson’s likely Planet Ocean, the quartz Omega Seamaster Chrono Quartz associated with May, and a solar-powered Tissot T-Touch associated with Hammond. The available reports do not provide movement specifications for every model.

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Luxury versus accessibility

Rolex, Omega and IWC occupy luxury-watch territory in the reported examples, while May’s likely DW-5600SB-3 is the clear low-cost contrast at about $110 in the 2024 account. That comparison should not be read as a current price ranking: prices vary by date, condition, market and whether a watch is new or pre-owned.

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