The US Open watch sightings rolling in from Flushing Meadows are, as ever, as competitive as anything happening on court. From titanium-cased driver’s watches to grail-level vintage Daytonas, US Open Official Site coverage confirms the grandstands at Arthur Ashe Stadium are functioning as one of the year’s best horological showcases. Here is what has caught the eye so far.
Rolex Dominates the US Open Watch Sightings
No surprise: Rolex is everywhere. Roger Federer kept his Oyster Perpetual ref. 134300 on during a practice match against Lorenzo Musetti. The 41mm piece features the brand’s new multi-coloured tile dial, released to mark 100 years of the Oyster Perpetual line, and has since been spotted on wrists ranging from Lionel Messi to Ed Sheeran. Federer wore the stainless steel version, bracelet and all, through the practice session without complaint.
The Daytona count alone could fill a display cabinet. Jimmy Fallon brought a vintage Rolex Daytona ref. 6239 “Paul Newman”, the very reference the actor wore and helped make iconic. A Paul Newman Daytona sold for $17.8 million in 2017 and remains the most expensive vintage wristwatch ever sold at auction. Carlos Alcaraz went further into the Daytona catalogue with the “Le Mans” edition, produced to mark the 100th anniversary of the 24-hour endurance race and made for a single year in stainless steel, yellow gold, and rose gold. Lindsey Vonn brought the blinding “Rainbow” Daytona ref. 116505. Adam Pally’s ref. 16518 distinguishes itself as the only leather-strap Daytona in attendance. Grant Hill went the opposite direction: a classic stainless steel ref. 116520 with a black dial, all understatement after the fireworks elsewhere. José Alvarado’s silver-dial, black-sub-dial version and Tyler Kolek’s blue-dial Datejust rounded out what was effectively a Knicks bench mob Rolex evening in the suites.
Elsewhere in the Rolex catalogue, Anthony Mackie wore the new Land-Dweller. Carmelo Anthony appeared in the Sky-Dweller. Carl Radke brought the all-blue Submariner “Smurf,” and Queen Latifah wore a two-tone steel and yellow-gold variant of the same model. Russell Wilson chose a solid yellow-gold Day-Date ref. 228238 with Roman numerals on the President bracelet. Peyton Watson took things further still: his Day-Date comes with a mother-of-pearl dial and diamond indices.
Independent and Dress Watches Making Their Mark
Away from the Crown, the US Open watch sightings have produced several standout pieces from other houses. Kaia Gerber arrived in a yellow-gold Panthère de Cartier in its mini size. The Panthère launched as a watch collection in the early 1980s, though the panther as a Cartier symbol traces back to the 1910s. Miles McBride broke from his Knicks teammates’ Rolex theme with a heavyweight Cartier Santos finished in black ADLC coating.
Dawn Staley wore a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon with a deep maroon dial, a variant from a line that has seen several iterations catch fire in collector circles in 2026, from expedition-ready rugged versions to ultra-thin dress pieces. On court, Donna Vekić wore an F.P. Journe Élégante, a quartz watch with a trick worth knowing: set it down and it stops running; pick it back up and the hands fly to the correct position automatically.
Marta Kostyuk wore her Patek Philippe Aquanaut ref. 5067A-014 during play. The 36.3mm stainless steel case comes with a bezel set with 46 diamonds, an embossed blue dial with red-fringed cardinal indices, and Patek’s cal. E23-250 S C quartz movement. Kostyuk, who reached the semifinals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 2026 according to the Sports Illustrated roundup and the US Open Official Site, appeared to have swapped the model’s usual rubber strap for a fabric alternative.
Travis Scott was courtside for day two of the main draw on 31 August, wearing his Richard Mille RM 75-01 Flying Tourbillon. Richard Mille drew on the look of the ocean and Gothic architecture for the design, and the result is something that looks like it surfaced from a sunken wreck rather than a manufacture in Les Breuleux.
John Mulaney and AJ Dybantsa proved that good taste does not require a five-figure outlay. Mulaney’s Timex Marlin, with its white dial and green leather strap, carries a three-figure price tag. Dybantsa’s G-Shock G-Steel GST-B1000 costs $440. Both held their own in stands full of Pateks and Rolexes, which is precisely the point of a well-chosen watch at any price.
