What Watch Does Don Draper Wear in Mad Men?

Mad Men is a multi-Emmy and Golden Globe-winning series on AMC. The fictional advertising agency called “Sterling Cooper,” loosely based on the real ad agency, Doyle Dane Bernbach, is the focus of the show. The setting is Madison Avenue, hence the name “Mad Men,” in Manhattan in the 1960s. Jon Hamm stars as Don Draper, the creative director, and the show revolves around the work and lives of the staff of the agency. Throughout the series, Don Draper’s watches change to reflect his evolving character, and what’s occurring in his life at the time. We review the most notable pieces from Don Draper’s collection below.

Mad Men x Jaeger-LeCoultre Collaboration

Don Draper’s watches from the first two seasons of Mad Men are by Jaeger-LeCoultre (JLC). They are perfectly chosen to align with Draper’s character development, as well as to match the feel of the 1960s. Also, JLC is an iconic brand, and Don Draper is an iconic character. This successful partnership even led to an exclusive Mad Men special edition Reverso watch being released, the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1931.

Season 1 – Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Memovox “Tuxedo” ref. E855

The brash, outspoken protagonist of the critically acclaimed show Mad Men, is a complex, layered character, with an intricate and dark backstory. In the first season, set in 1960 when he’s starting out at the ad agency, Don Draper’s watch is a Jaeger-LeCoultre Memovox. This watch is symbolic of his status at the company, as it is a JLC starter model. Draper is just starting out at the agency himself, low on the ladder. However, it is still a beautiful chronograph. The edition Draper wears, nicknamed the “Tuxedo,” features a black outer ring, white inner dial, and steel case. It is practical, with its built in alarm feature, and attractive with a hint of retro.

Seasons 2 and 3 – Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Classique in Yellow Gold

Don Draper’s watch gets an upgrade to a gold JLC Reverso in season 2, set in 1962. It is impossible to explain, without spoilers, why the Reverso is perfectly symbolic of Draper. A hint is that the protective metal casing that hides the delicate glassware and the inner movement of the watch is representative of his whole identity. (That’s all we can give you without giving away too much of Draper’s interesting past.)

Besides being a fitting watch for Draper’s personality, the JLC Reverso is a beautiful, understated, yet classy watch. Unveiled in 1931, this protective reversibility was a pioneering advancement in the world of chronographs. Polo players inspired the original design of the protective metal back, because the glass on their timepieces kept shattering during play. Since then, the slim, art-deco design has been popular for both men and women.

Related content: The Rebirth of the Men’s Dress Watch

The Special Edition Mad Men Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso ref. 19436S

To celebrate the iconic Don Draper and the success of Mad Men, Jaeger-LeCoultre released a Mad Men limited edition Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1931. With only 25 created, each one is hand-inscribed with the acronym SCDP, for the agency Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce that Draper works for in the show, and the number of the watch, out of twenty-five. It comes in a custom commemorative walnut box also branded with SCDP. Furthermore, each comes with a signed copy of “Sterling’s Gold, ” the memoir of Roger Sterling, Don Draper’s boss, a personalized letter from him, and a few classic Jaeger-LeCoultre print advertisements.

While Don Draper, the Madison avenue ad-man loves his JLC Reverso, Jon Hamm, the talented and famous actor in real life, enjoys it as well. Notably, he has worn it at Jaeger-LeCoultre events.

Another famous Reverso:
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso: Batman’s Watch in The Dark Knight Rises

Season 4 – Rolex Explorer 1 ref. 1016

In season 4, set from November 1964 to October 1965, Don Draper and his firm collaborate with Rolex, so it is only fitting Don Draper’s watch reflects this partnership. Released in 1963, this watch is a new release, having first been sold by Rolex just the year before the beginning of this season. While his previous watches were old classics, perhaps his choice for something new intentionally mirrors his growing character.

Furthermore, the Rolex Explorer 1 ref. 1016 he wears was designed for mountaineering, to be able to withstand and thrive in the harsh conditions of extreme altitude and climate. While Draper isn’t about to scale. Everest himself, the timepiece is symbolic of his journey. His mountain is his personal journey confronting and dealing with his past, as well as his climb up the corporate ladder at the ad agency.

Since its release in the early 1950s, the Explorer has been updated several times due to its popularity. Don Draper’s watch, the first version, has a 36mm stainless steel case. It includes a thick acrylic crystal face, and a custom lubricant to increase its durability in cold weather. It has a bubble back, and the classic oyster-lock strap.

More on Rolex from Grey Market:
What is the Best Entry-Level Rolex?
The Most Popular Rolex Watches

Season 5: Omega Seamaster DeVille ref. 166.020

Don Draper’s Omega watch in season 5, the Seamaster DeVille, was first debuted in 1963. Season 5 was set in 1966, so the Omega Seamaster Deville, like the Rolex, would have been another trendy, modern piece at the time. It has a black-on-black, clean face, and a small date display.

The stainless steel case is 34 millimeters. Although small by today’s standards, that size was popular during the era. While it’s called a Seamaster, this vintage watch is only water resistant to 30 meters. In fact, this timepiece actually preceded the creation of Omega’s first true dive watches.

Learn more: What is a Dive Watch? 

In the following years, a separate DeVille collection was made for the dressier designs, while the Seamaster name was appropriately bestowed on the new line of Omega dive watches.

What do Don Draper’s Watches Have in Common?

Don Draper’s watches are collected as his character evolves throughout the series, with each luxury timepiece signifying some change in the character. The one consistent, however, is that they have all been quality, tasteful that reflect the journey of an iconic character in a critically acclaimed and extremely popular TV show.

More famous watches in film and television:
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Watch in “End of Days”
Tony Stark’s Watches: What Robert Downey Jr. wears in the Iron Man Films
Ryan Gosling’s Drive Watch: a Vintage Patek Philippe
The Luxury Watches of the Entourage Finale
Top 6 WATCHES Perfectly Cast in TV SHOWS