Off the Menu: Anthony Bourdain’s Eclectic Watch Collection
“The whole concept of 'the perfect meal' is ludicrous. I knew already that the best meal in the world, the perfect meal, is very rarely the most sophisticated or expensive one... Context and memory play powerful roles in all the truly great meals in one's life.”
Said Mr. Bourdain as he laid on the shores of Provincetown, MA. He then emphasized his point further with a heartwarming bowl of New England clam chowder served on a styrofoam bowl, which he consumed while walking around a restaurant.
“This is how my long and checkered career began…” he continued with the bowl in his hand, as he pointed towards his first station — a cramped up sink in the corner.
Back on the beach, it was a bit windy; the breeze gently ruffled his grey hair. The sun wasn’t exactly shining, but it was bright enough that a pair of sunglasses was necessary.
He began narrating over his troubled beginnings; being an addict and working as a dish washer in the very same town. A few seconds later, he spiced up the drama by jumping into retrospection:
What if I’ve never been a chef?
A thrilling tale followed afterwards. A journey to wisdom led by the chaos — beautiful chaos, might I add — only experienced by line cooks and head chefs.
But I was distracted.
He was one hell of a storyteller for sure, but this time a blissful silver-dialed Oyster Perpetual took the center stage. It glittered every time he moved his arm, reflecting different angles of the sun. From a distance (and the fact this series was filmed in 2002) it seemed beautifully worn.
For some reason that moment got me binging all of his series — and I do mean all — with the purpose of gaining wisdom of course, but sprinkled with the occasional watch spotting.
I noticed that silver Rolex wasn’t his only one, and nor was it his favorite by the looks of it. Bourdain often sported the 116300, with its serene blue dial soaring across Tokyo and Vietnam in both: No Reservations and Parts Unknown.
Another of his notable TV watches (Read: watches worn on television, a term coined by another culinary icon: Emeril Lagasse) is a blacked-out Milgauss, shown here during a shoot with CNN and Anderson Cooper.
While this watch went under the radar during my marathon, there is another Rolex that arguably never made an on-screen appearance.
From what I can gather, he favors bold yet serene designs. Not entirely in-your-face, but emblematic nonetheless. To paint his taste in Rolex, he also owned a Datejust II and an Explorer I.
He wore other brands as well, in case you were wondering.
He was spotted with a Tag Monaco inside New York's subway, the classic Panerai Radiomir in Taiwan, and a Patek Calatrava. Though that last one was recent because the watch went up for auction.
Though my personal favorite has to be the military style Timex in Parts Unknown, and the incredibly classy 25mm Movado Museum, which I believe was worn during a photoshoot for one of his bestselling books.
On a personal note, it goes without saying that I miss his presence. I never knew him personally (obviously) but his adventurous, out-of-the-comfort zone philosophy with food made me break my usual high school routine. Without him, I wouldn’t have developed an appreciation for the culinary arts, and how food can be (much like the quote in the beginning) as personal as watches.
May this article be a form of appreciation for him. By no means am I trying to influence his image with these watches, nor am I trying to analyze his personality.
I just want to say on behalf of mankind,
Thank you.
And we miss you.
Casio fanboy. Noob horologist. Sometimes I write articles about watches famous people wear.
Iconic in many ways.
I have never been able to find a pic of him wearing an Explorer (I have seen articles that claim he was wearing it during the Obama interview, but it's unclear.) He also apparently had a Sub, and gave his crew Milgausses as gifts.
His taste is sort of all over the place with watches. He seemed to gravitate towards icons, especially towards the end of his life when he could pick up a Monaco because he liked McQueen, etc... But it's worth noting for a big guy, he rocked a 34mm OP with ease and no apologies. RIP Tony!
Iconic in many ways.
I have never been able to find a pic of him wearing an Explorer (I have seen articles that claim he was wearing it during the Obama interview, but it's unclear.) He also apparently had a Sub, and gave his crew Milgausses as gifts.
His taste is sort of all over the place with watches. He seemed to gravitate towards icons, especially towards the end of his life when he could pick up a Monaco because he liked McQueen, etc... But it's worth noting for a big guy, he rocked a 34mm OP with ease and no apologies. RIP Tony!
Couldn't have said it any better! This big guy also rocked a 25mm Movado 😂
It still hurts to think of his passing. I often thought he had the perfect job - travelling, eating, and drinking. Hurts even more to rewatched his shows and hear him joke about suicide... 😔
RIP Tony
A few years before Tony Bourdain decided just living each day was something too onerous to deal with, he was filming in Toronto, one of my chef friends was invited to meet him in Kensington Market, guy was a huge fan of Bourdain’s various film projects as well as a watch enthusiast. Sometime later over coffees he shared his much too brief meeting with his hero with me. This is strictly his story related to me: Tony Bourdain joked that he might have picked up his Rolex affectation from hanging around inexpensive eateries in Chinatowns around the world where customers, busboys and especially kitchen staff often wear modest steel Rolex watches, perhaps the single object of any value sourced before leaving home to find their way in this great big effing world! Sad to say that many of the places Mr Bourdain visited while in Kensington Market are no longer in business. They too are missed!
Great write up. I know nothing about him or culinary shows, but it’s cool seeing guys like this that wear watches because they enjoy and appreciate them, rather than just to flex their success.
It still hurts to think of his passing. I often thought he had the perfect job - travelling, eating, and drinking. Hurts even more to rewatched his shows and hear him joke about suicide... 😔
RIP Tony
You can never tell when someone's hurting. Sometimes, the clue is in those who seems to have it all
A few years before Tony Bourdain decided just living each day was something too onerous to deal with, he was filming in Toronto, one of my chef friends was invited to meet him in Kensington Market, guy was a huge fan of Bourdain’s various film projects as well as a watch enthusiast. Sometime later over coffees he shared his much too brief meeting with his hero with me. This is strictly his story related to me: Tony Bourdain joked that he might have picked up his Rolex affectation from hanging around inexpensive eateries in Chinatowns around the world where customers, busboys and especially kitchen staff often wear modest steel Rolex watches, perhaps the single object of any value sourced before leaving home to find their way in this great big effing world! Sad to say that many of the places Mr Bourdain visited while in Kensington Market are no longer in business. They too are missed!
Wow — thank you so much for sharing this story. I never expected that! I always assumed he got it from other successful chefs
Great write up. I know nothing about him or culinary shows, but it’s cool seeing guys like this that wear watches because they enjoy and appreciate them, rather than just to flex their success.
Thank you 🙏
Great write up. I know nothing about him or culinary shows, but it’s cool seeing guys like this that wear watches because they enjoy and appreciate them, rather than just to flex their success.
I first noticed chefs when my wife introduced me to the magic of eating sushi at a bar decades ago while the chef prepares the nigiri right in front of you, many of the top guys around the city wore steel Rolex watches, a few guys admitted that while wearing a white chef’s jacket, a decent watch was the only way to show off their status, that being a chef was more than just a job cooking for people out having a good time. I get that and totally respect the human need to flex sometimes.
A few years before Tony Bourdain decided just living each day was something too onerous to deal with, he was filming in Toronto, one of my chef friends was invited to meet him in Kensington Market, guy was a huge fan of Bourdain’s various film projects as well as a watch enthusiast. Sometime later over coffees he shared his much too brief meeting with his hero with me. This is strictly his story related to me: Tony Bourdain joked that he might have picked up his Rolex affectation from hanging around inexpensive eateries in Chinatowns around the world where customers, busboys and especially kitchen staff often wear modest steel Rolex watches, perhaps the single object of any value sourced before leaving home to find their way in this great big effing world! Sad to say that many of the places Mr Bourdain visited while in Kensington Market are no longer in business. They too are missed!
Fond memories of Kensington Market from my youth and now my teenage daughter frequents it for vintage clothing
Wow — thank you so much for sharing this story. I never expected that! I always assumed he got it from other successful chefs
Tony was the standard, lol! Even today I see more Rolex in Chinatowns than in financial districts. The gent who operates the Vietnamese Pho eatery here wears a gold D/D while he seats customers and cleans the tables. His wife wears a lady’s but collects the cash. Have a great day.
Fond memories of Kensington Market from my youth and now my teenage daughter frequents it for vintage clothing
Courage my love! ❤️
You can never tell when someone's hurting. Sometimes, the clue is in those who seems to have it all
One of the biggest reasons I have added a charity aspect to my monthly giveaways this year. I had such a great response from last Movember with several people sharing their mental struggles with me so I was honoured & inspired. Some excerpts
One of the biggest reasons I have added a charity aspect to my monthly giveaways this year. I had such a great response from last Movember with several people sharing their mental struggles with me so I was honoured & inspired. Some excerpts
Thank you for being so kind 🙏
If someone asked me which late celebrity I'd love to have had spent an evening with, my two top answers would look eerily similar: Anthony Bourdain and Leonard Cohen.
If someone asked me which late celebrity I'd love to have had spent an evening with, my two top answers would look eerily similar: Anthony Bourdain and Leonard Cohen.
Mine would be Anthony Bourdain and Frank Sinatra.
Imagine the war stories 😮
Thank you for sharing. He's an icon for sure, a realist and an imperfect human that we can relate to, both in life's triumps, struggles, and passions.
My favorite quote:
Thank you for sharing. He's an icon for sure, a realist and an imperfect human that we can relate to, both in life's triumps, struggles, and passions.
My favorite quote:
♥️
Anthony Bourdain was great, read a couple of his books and watched every episode of No Reservations. I thought what he did was at least in the top 2 of occupations, the other being a professional golfer. So sad when I heard of his passing, thanks for the remembrance.
I did notice a watch or two but that was incidental, the focus was more on the food and the travel.
We still watch his shows.
We still watch his shows.
Definitely — and a lot of them are now free on YouTube!