The Met Gala, officially known as the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, is an annual event that blends high fashion with fundraising at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. For many people in Vietnam, it still feels like a kind of “mysterious grand ball,” where extravagant outfits dominate the spotlight.

Yet watches have quietly remained a constant presence throughout the years, not merely as accessories, but as subtle reflections of personal taste, character, and sometimes even status.

Met Gala 2026 has officially come to a close, and with it came an incredibly impressive lineup of watches on the wrists of celebrities and public figures alike. With this year’s theme centered around Costume Art, it was only natural for the watch game to go full firework mode as well.

1. Jay-Z - Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref 6300

The Carters arrived fashionably late, very much on purpose. Beyoncé, serving as one of the event’s co-chairs, already guaranteed a dramatic entrance, but once they appeared, nobody was surprised to see Jay-Z deliver one of the coldest watch flexes of the night.

He barely revealed a quarter of the dial, yet it was instantly recognizable as an extraordinarily rare Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300G. And honestly, calling one of the greatest rappers of all time a true “Grandmaster Chime” almost feels too perfect.

The white gold ref. 6300G, produced in 2019, belongs to that mythical tier of watchmaking most people will never encounter in real life, unless you happen to be close friends with Jay-Z… or someone willing to spend more than £2 million on a single watch.

2.  Conner Storrie - Omega Constellation Observatory

Connor Storrie is clearly having a breakout year, so it made perfect sense for him to celebrate his growing red carpet presence with one of the hottest dress watches of the moment: the striking yellow gold Omega Constellation Observatory.

Honestly, it might be one of the very few watches capable of stealing attention away from those impressively sculpted bare arms.

3. COLMAN DOMINGO - Omega Constellation Manhattan Vintage (1984)

Colman Domingo deserves real credit for bringing something genuinely thoughtful to the event: a vintage Omega Constellation Manhattan from the 1980s.

The choice feels especially poetic because the “Manhattan” name itself references Manhattan, New York, the very place where the Met Gala takes place each year. This particular version was likely released around 1984, which shows just how deep the Euphoria star was willing to dig into Omega’s archives to uncover this hidden gem.

And that is exactly what makes the watch so compelling. It was not the safe choice, nor the predictable one. Instead of chasing obvious hype pieces, Domingo arrived with something full of context, character, and quiet intelligence.

4. Bad Bunny - Cartier Cloche

No true red carpet is complete without a few great vintage Cartiers, and Bad Bunny is always ready to deliver on that front.

On his wrist was the wonderfully unusual Cartier Cloche. “Cloche” means “bell” in French, a fitting name for one of Cartier’s most distinctive and rarely seen case shapes.

This is the kind of watch where artistry completely overtakes practicality, and on a night built around the idea that fashion itself is art, there may not have been a more appropriate choice.

Interestingly, Cartier recently revived the Cloche during Watches and Wonders, giving modern audiences a chance to experience this wonderfully eccentric design once again.

5. THE ROCK (DWAYNE JOHNSON) - Jacob & Co. Billionaire III

With a retail price of $3.3 million USD, roughly equivalent to 87 billion VND, this was very likely the most expensive confirmed watch spotted at Met Gala 2026.

The piece in question was the Jacob & Co. Billionaire III in white gold: 43mm wide, 54mm long, and completely flooded with 714 emerald-cut diamonds totaling somewhere between 129 and 147 carats.

At this level, it barely even feels like a wristwatch in the traditional sense. It is essentially a diamond bracelet that just happens to tell time.

Then again, if you are an A-list superstar making your first-ever Met Gala appearance, causing a little collective jaw-drop from the crowd almost feels mandatory.

6. MARK ZUCKERBERG - George Daniels Co-Axial Anniversary Watch

Only 35 examples of this watch were ever made, so whenever you encounter a George Daniels wristwatch in real life, it is probably worth pausing for a moment to appreciate the occasion… and, naturally, to acknowledge the collector taste of whoever is wearing it.

So yes, as awkward as it may sound, we have to say the same thing this time about “Mr. Facebook” himself.

Over the past few years, Mark Zuckerberg has quietly built a surprisingly interesting watch journey, and this Met Gala appearance felt like the latest chapter in that evolution. In terms of rarity alone, this piece can absolutely stand toe-to-toe with Jay-Z’s Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300G.

7. LUKE EVANS - Hublot Big Bang Unico High Jewellery

The award for “Most Dramatic Watch Reveal” of the night probably belongs to Luke Evans, who delivered an almost hilariously unapologetic wrist-shot pose on the red carpet.

On display was the Hublot Big Bang Unico High Jewellery in 42mm white gold, fully set with 334 baguette-cut diamonds totaling 12.5 carats.

And hidden beneath that small avalanche of diamonds sits Hublot’s in-house HUB1280 calibre, quietly reminding everyone that there is still a serious mechanical watch underneath all the sparkle.

9. PAUL ANTHONY KELLY - Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon

Paul Anthony Kelly previously wore a classic-shaped Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921 to Vanity Fair’s Oscar after-party back in March. But for Met Gala 2026, he decided to level things up with the Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon.

This is luxury sports watch territory at its finest: a 42.5mm titanium case that is impossible to miss, even in the briefest glance. The burgundy dial also matched perfectly with the pinky ring he was wearing, creating one of those quietly satisfying tone-on-tone details that fashion people live for.

Apparently, portraying a member of the Kennedy family comes with a certain level of effortless elegance.

10. Nicholas Hoult đeo Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar 

As many people already know, the Met Gala always takes place on the first Monday of May. But perhaps Nicholas Hoult wanted a little extra reassurance, because he showed up wearing a Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar, a watch capable of tracking not only the time, but also the date, month, and even leap years with remarkable precision.

Previously, Hoult had often shown his affection for Jaeger-LeCoultre, another maison famous for its perpetual calendar creations. But if there is ever a perfect night to debut a new relationship in the watch world, the Met Gala might just be it.

11. Finn Wolfhard & Tyriq Withers - Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Cocktail Watch

Easily one of the most talked-about watches of the night.

This Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface Or Deco does not exist anywhere in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s current catalog. Crafted in white gold and framed by twin rows of emeralds surrounding the dial, it takes the classic Art Deco elegance of the Reverso and pushes it into far more extravagant territory.

No official announcement has been made so far, which makes the whole thing even more intriguing. In fact, this may be the same strategy Jaeger-LeCoultre used during the 2026 Oscars with Robert Pattinson: quietly placing unreleased watches on celebrity wrists and letting the watch community spiral into speculation before the official reveal arrives.

According to GQ UK, the two mysterious JLC pieces seen at Met Gala 2026 are very likely previews of upcoming releases from the brand.

12. Irina Shayk – Watch Bikini, Necklance & Choker

And finally, the ultimate finale, because Irina Shayk simply never disappoints.

Her appearance may have been one of the boldest watch-related statements at this year’s Met Gala, largely because she almost turned watches into clothing itself.

These were no longer accessories sitting politely on the wrist. Instead, the watches were arranged into a bikini, layered necklaces, and a choker, transforming them into literal wearable art. It pushed the idea of a watch far beyond simple timekeeping and into the realm of performance fashion.

This is certainly not the kind of styling that traditional watch collectors would gravitate toward. But at an event like the Met Gala, where the line between fashion and art practically dissolves into glitter and camera flashes, the concept somehow makes perfect sense in its own wonderfully chaotic way.

Looking back at this year’s Met Gala, one thing becomes very clear: watches are no longer just “something extra” on the wrist. From ultra-rare mechanical masterpieces and unreleased prototypes to styling concepts that completely challenge traditional definitions, every choice revealed something deeply personal about the wearer and how they wanted to be perceived on one of fashion’s most theatrical nights.

And perhaps that leaves us with the most interesting question of all: which watch impressed you the most?

Was it a rare mechanical masterpiece, a subtle choice filled with hidden depth, or a full-scale spectacle that shattered the usual rules entirely?