Even superheroes can’t resist the allure of luxury watches. In the 2016 Marvel film Dr. Strange, we see the protagonist wear his watch even with this costume on – and it’s just one among an impressive collection of timepieces.
Benedict Cumberbatch plays Dr. Stephen Strange, a New York-based celebrity surgeon. The high-flying celebrity doctor meets a life-changing accident, and in the quest to heal himself, makes a pilgrimage to Kathmandu to undergo spiritual treatments. Gaining much more than recovery, he becomes a Master of the Mystic Arts himself, having the ability to travel through time and dimensions.
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In key parts of the film, there is one special watch that’s on the wrist of Doctor Strange. Close up shots reveal it to be the Jaeger LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar. The classically elegant piece features a stainless steel case, whose 9.2mm thickness slides under the cuff.
The dial is harmoniously arranged, with three subdials showing the day of the week, date, and month; a crescent-shaped, deep blue moon phase display at 12 o’clock, and a year window between 7 and 8 o’clock. The extra thin watch is composed of 336 pieces, making it truly a marvel of watchmaking.
In the movie, the timepiece is shown with an inscription at the back – the watch came from the love interest of Doctor Strange, played by Rachel McAdams. This suggests that the actual watch used was a special order, as the boutique edition comes with a see-through sapphire crystal displaying the movement. (Photos from Jaeger LeCoultre)
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Benedict Cumberbatch also wore the timepiece in many red carpet appearances for the film. Jaeger LeCoultre signed the English actor as their brand ambassador in 2018.
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The JLC Master Ultra Thin Perpetual Calendar is the obvious wrist hero in the film, but in a scene prior to the accident, we’re given a peek inside the impressive watch collection of Doctor Strange.
Sitting on the built-in watch winder are about a dozen timepieces – among them a pre-Cerachrom Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, a Tag Heuer Monaco with a silver dial, and the Jaeger LeCoultre Grande Reverso Rouge 1931 ref Q278856J. (Photo of Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso from Sotheby’s).
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