Late Anthony Bourdain did countless things in his life. He was a travel and cooking show presenter, author, chef, addictive personality, and a notably acerbic wit. His everyman sensibilities were well reflected in his travel, cooking, and everyday lifestyle. Remembered for Anthony’s travelogue-style food programs, he showed that one can enjoy the world’s best while being down-to-earth and authentic. He inspired many to take up a career in the restaurant business. Those with a sharp eye have noticed frequently that he was a sort of luxury watch enthusiast.
The charismatic multi-hyphenate has been remembered through his philanthropy, shows, recipes, words, and now Anthony Bourdain’s love for watches. Anthony Bourdain’s watch collection, respect for his fellowmen, and his general approach to life are praiseworthy. The watch collection belonging to this famed TV personality came up for auction one year after he left the world in 2018. Hitting the auction block are several treasured timepieces which included Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Blue Dial, a Panerai Radiomir, a vintage Rolex, Patek Philippe Calatrava, and many more.
From Kitchens to Countries: Anthony Bourdain’s Watch Chronicles
1. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date
Anthony Bourdain’s watches collection had this timepiece that he wore most often. The piece is Rolex Oyster Date Perpetual 34 mm with a blue dial. The bezel is quite more interesting than the more commonly viewed fluted or plain Rolex bezels. Through iGavel Auctions in 2019, it was auctioned and sold for $48,750. Sold along with a Patek Philippe Calatrava and a vintage Rolex Oyster, a big portion of his earnings from this timepiece went towards a scholarship at America’s Culinary Institute. The photo mentioned below is from Anthony’s Instagram post. Roger Federer, Bernie Madoff, Conor McGregor, Lebron James, Mark Wahlberg, Jen SelterSylvester Stallone, and many more watch collector love to wear this watch from Rolex.
- Price: $11,650
- Diameter: 34 mm
- Water Resistance: 100 meters
- Release Year: 1970
2. Rolex Datejust II
Later Anthony Bourdain got himself quite a more modern and larger blue dial of Rolex. In several episodes of No Reservations, he wore his Rolex Datejust II. This 41mm timepiece is made of 904L stainless steel and has been outfitted with luminous baton hour markers and a blue dial. The combination of a simple dial, a smooth bezel, and a highly durable material goes pretty well with many unique looks. The watch accompanied Bourdain on many of his travels. This photo has been taken from the New Yorker on Twitter. Roger Federer and Justin Bieber are seen wearing Rolex Datejust II.
- Price: $16,800
- Diameter: 41 mm
- Water Resistance: 100 meters
- Release Year: 2009
3. Rolex Explorer I
The Rolex Explorer I is among the most versatile sports watches from the famous brand Rolex. The simple dial with baton hour markers and luminous 3-6-9 Arabic numerals makes for a timepiece that can be used anywhere. If Anthony Bourdain had worn this piece from weekend jaunts to formal meetings and even on his Himalayas trip, it would still look pretty good. The photo has been taken from CNN Parts Unknown on Instagram. Famous Rolex Explorer I wearer includes Tom Hanks, Ian Fleming, Don Draper, Bryan Ferry, and Steve McQueen.
- Price: $8,290
- Diameter: 39 mm
- Water Resistance: 100 meters
- Release Year: 1953
4. Panerai Radiomir
Another popular brand from Anthony Bourdain’s watch collection is Panerai. Panerai brand is famous for its enormous dive watches. This Radiomir is the ideal choice for those wishing to have Panerai with a sleeker, thinner case. It comes with thinner wire lugs and without the crown protector offering a streamlined look while it’s still robust. Probably, the big selling points were the easy-setting crown along with a legible, big dial. The Panerai Radiomir equips a manual winding movement with black dial color, steel case, leather strap, and a power reserve of up to 3 days. Dwayne Johnson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jesse McCartney have shown their love for Panerai pieces.
- Price: $5,390
- Diameter: 45 mm
- Water Resistance: 100 meters
- Release Year: 1935
5. Rolex Oyster Perpetual
A favorite piece of Anthony Bourdain which his father passed on to him- this stainless steel vintage Rolex. Bourdain never made any reference as to what model this watch was. However, it looks very much similar to an Oyster Perpetual. Anthony Bourdain wore this watch quite often. His fans on his travelogues must have definitely noticed. This photo is from Anthony’s Instagram post. Mark Wahlberg, Lebron James, and Roger Federer have been spotted wearing Rolex OP.
- Price: $4299
- Diameter: 34 mm
- Water Resistance: 100 meters
- Release Year: 1975
6. Rolex Milgauss
Rolex Milgauss is perhaps Anthony’s most ornate timepiece. He wore its custom PVD blacked-put version. This accentuated the bright orange details and green crystal details of the watch. The Milgauss, despite its playful design, is quite an accurate timepiece. Milgauss has been designed as an anti-magnetic piece for scientists. It is capable of resisting up to 1,000 gauss. This model was definitely durable enough for Anthony’s globetrotting lifestyle. The green/orange dial accents and the black finish brought a touch of the bad-boy menace. Also, the green crystal is unmistakable. This photo has been collected by Anthony’s Instagram. Eric Clapton, Will Ferrell, Tom Hanks, Jake Gyllenhaal, James May, Daniel De Rossi, and Sylvester Stallone are some celebrities who picked up Rolex Milgauss.
- Price: $15,985
- Diameter: 40 mm
- Water Resistance: 100 meters
- Release Year: 2007
7. Patek Philippe Calatrava
When Anthony Bourdain had to dress things up, then all the time he would grab this 18K Gold watch named Patek Philippe Calatrava Isochronism. Its textured bezel brings a touch of visual interest to the austere case design. There’s definitely a reason why this Patek Philippe pieces is known as a timeless classic. Calatrava’s minimalist perfection will never go out of style, and it is appropriate with anything from black tie to casual. The movement viewed through its visible case back is nothing short of Swiss perfection. Singer Ed Sheeran was marked wearing the same timepiece.
- Price: $4,200
- Diameter: 37 mm
- Water Resistance: 30 meters
- Release Year: 1932
8. 1960s Rolex Oyster Perpetual, No-date
Often Anthony Bourdain was seen wearing the Rolex Oyster Perpetual date of his father from the 1960s, a no-date model. His father’s Rolex piece is the horological equivalent of a plate of perfectly made scrambled eggs. The absolute best in class, simple, and accessible to everyone, it makes a worthy addition to anyone’s collection. For Anthony, a watch, similar to a plate of a person’s food, is his status symbol and also an emblem full of meaning and memory- mechanical poetry in motion.
- Price: $62.88
- Diameter: 36 mm
- Water Resistance: 100 meters
- Release Year: 1959
What Watches Antony Bourdain Owned?
When Anthony Bourdain died, he left a lot behind. Apart from his substantial legacy as an ambassador for great food the world over, a chef, and an author, he left material things, which included a fascinating watch collection. A collection of his most cherished timepieces has hit the auction block. Bourdain’s watch collection included several Rolexes, a jet-black Panerai Radiomir, a Patek Philippe Calatrava, and a Date Just with a blue dial on an Oyster bracelet. His interest in timepieces has much to do with his status signaling, instead of a fascination with the passing of time and his desire to understand how things interrelate and work. He understood that the watches we wear reveal so much about society and a person.
From Writer
It’s been more than five years since Anthony Bourdain’s sudden death in June 2018. For the TV host and chef’s fan around the world, the grief still runs deep. Anthony Bourdain’s watch collection gained broader recognition when a great part of it was auctioned for charity the following year after he left. Anthony Bourdain’s watch collection was heavy on the Rolex, making it a perfect sense. He did not go for flash models but instead understated references that exude the impeccable craftsmanship and legendary reliability of Rolex. Available currently online at iGavel auctions, his remarkable pieces range from Patel Philippe to Rolex, with 40% of the overall sales to be donated to the Culinary Institute of America and the remaining amount to Bourdain’s family.
