The combination of the world of cartoons and comics and luxury watches may seem odd at first. However, there are some amazing and very popular comic and cartoon watches out there. We’ve selected our five favorite watches with a comic twist.
The Connection Between the World of Comics and Luxury Watches
At first glance, the world of comics has nothing in common with the world of watches. But luxury watches are great storytellers, and that’s where the two worlds collide. Some of our picks tell a story much bigger than the character on the dial, while others give the characters an active mechanical role in displaying the time or date. Each of these watches makes the connection between the two worlds more logical than it first appears. So let’s get started with our Top 5 list!
Omega Speedmaster Professional Silver Snoopy Award 45th Anniversary
Our first pick is the 2015 Omega Speedmaster Professional Silver Snoopy Award 45th Anniversary. It’s the second of three Speedmaster Silver Snoopy models. (The first came out in 2003, the third in 2020.)
This Silver Snoopy model tells the story of the Apollo 13 mission in the snoopiest way possible. Snoopy is featured on the 9 o’clock subdial with a thought bubble that reads, “Failure is not an option!” Furthermore, the first 14 seconds on the seconds scale are accompanied by the text “What could you do in 14 seconds?” This is a reference to the Omega Speedmaster’s crucial role in timing the Apollo 13 astronauts to 14 seconds, allowing them to return safely to earth after an on-board explosion. The visual brilliance of the timepiece is further enhanced by the silver Snoopy wearing a space helmet, set against a blue and black enamel background, with silver dust as the stars in the sky on the case back.
The watch was unveiled at Baselworld 2015 and cost $6,500. All 1,970 pieces of the limited edition sold out quickly, and prices soon increased to ridiculous levels. The watches now sell for between roughly $38,000 and $49,000, showing their incredible popularity.
Bulgari Gérald Genta Arena Retrograde Smiling Mickey Mouse
The Gérald Genta brand introduced a series of Disney watches in the 1990s that featured Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse on the dials. But when Bulgari bought the brand, the watches were discontinued. Mickey returned to the dial in 2021 when Bulgari introduced the brilliant Bulgari Gérald Genta Arena Retrograde Smiling Mickey Mouse.
The watch features Mickey Mouse smiling happily as he points to the minutes on the top half of the dial. Because this is a retrograde minute display, when Mickey’s finger reaches 60 minutes, his hand returns to its original position at 00 minutes. As soon as Mickey points at the 60-minute marker, the jumping hour indicator next to him on the lower half of the dial will jump to the next hour. It’s a fun complication that gives Mickey an active role in telling the time.
The original price of this 150-piece limited edition was just over $17,300, and current asking prices are double to triple that amount.
Oris ProPilot X Kermit Edition
Another watch that immediately came to mind for this list is the Oris ProPilot X Kermit Edition. While Kermit is not strictly a cartoon or comic character, it would be weird not to include the popular Muppet character on this list. This special Kermit Edition of the ProPilot X came out in 2023 and is based on the regular ProPilot X, a serious modern-day titanium pilot’s watch. For the Kermit Edition, the fun factor is added to make you smile.
To start with, the watch has a Kermit green dial and a date window at 6 o’clock. At first glance, it looks like a normal date display. But there’s a little Easter egg that makes it a lot of fun: On the first day of the month, Kermit appears with his trademark smile. Oris has named the first of the month “Kermit Day.” It serves as a reminder not to take things too seriously. You can get your hands on a Kermit Edition between $3,300 and $4,900.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider-Man”
This list would not be complete without an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept “Black Panther” or “Spider-Man” Edition. (You can read more about these pieces in this article.) While the Black Panther model was the first to launch, I prefer the watch prominently featuring Spider-Man on the dial. I love the character’s instantly recognizable pose, which brings the Marvel character to life perfectly.
The 3D Spider-Man figure is made of white gold and hand-painted in the red and blue of the character’s iconic suit. Behind Spider-Man, you’ll find a skeletonized movement, which is the perfect backdrop as it is reminiscent of a spider web. At 6 o’clock, you’ll find the tourbillon complication that makes this Royal Oak Concept a watchmaking marvel. It’s also a cool watch that celebrates Spider-Man. The limited edition of 250 pieces was available for a list price of $215,000 each, but expect to see prices twice that on Chrono24.
Zenith Chronomaster Revival “Lupin the Third” Trilogy
The fifth and final pick is not just one watch, but a series of three. While the first four picks featured world-famous comic and cartoon characters (and a Muppet), let’s not forget the world of Japanese manga and anime. Swiss luxury brand Zenith collaborated with the creators of the popular manga series “Lupin The Third.” The main character was inspired by the character Arsène Lupin, created by French writer Maurice Leblanc. But three watches were inspired by the watch worn by Mr. Daisuke Jigen, Lupin III’s partner. It resembles Zenith’s iconic A384, and the Swiss brand decided to bring the imaginary watch to life.
The first model was released exclusively as a Japanese domestic model and features a gray and black dial. The second model followed a year later and features a black and white panda dial. The third and last model features a diagonally split dial that combines the design of the first two watches. The end result is a bonkers watch that shouldn’t work aesthetically, but somehow looks amazing. Expect to see prices between $8,600 and $11,000 for the various models.
There you have it: five unique collaborations between the world of watches and the world of comics and cartoons that show how well they go hand in hand.
