7 action-packed watches in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s collection, from a Rolex GMT-Master 1675, his collabs with Audemars Piguet and Panerai gift from Sylvester Stallone, to retro gems
His journey began as one of the most celebrated bodybuilders in history, claiming prestigious titles such as Mr Universe (six times across amateur and professional levels, from 1966) and Mr Olympia (seven times in this professional-only contest, from 1970).
Leveraging his fame, he transitioned to become one of the original silver-screen action heroes, starring in blockbuster hits such as The Terminator, Total Recall and True Lies during the golden era of 1980s and 1990s action flicks. His later tenure as the governor of California from 2003, for seven-plus years, solidified his status as a cultural icon.
Alongside this illustrious career, Schwarzenegger also has a penchant for fine luxury watches, typical of a man of his stature. His collection has evolved over the years, starting with the rugged watches he sported in many of his best-known films (perhaps pioneering one of the first celebrity watch collaborations with Audemars Piguet) and expanding to include eclectic choices that showcase his more profound, contemplative side and his fascination with a watch brand or model’s historical significance and narrative.
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His watch-collecting pastime has not slowed in recent years either. In January, he was stopped by customs at Munich Airport over entering Germany with undeclared luxury watch made by Swiss manufacturer Audemars Piguet, allegedly valued at about US$21,750, which was reported by Associated Press to be potentially auctioned for charity.
Here are some of the notable pieces from Schwarzenegger’s personal luxury watch collection, that spans five decades.
1. Seiko H558-5009 “The Arnie”
A list of this towering action star’s watches just wouldn’t be complete without mentioning what, in its day, was dubbed “The Arnie”. The 1982-launched Seiko diving watch, known for its appearances in the actor’s 1980s blockbusters such as Commando and Predator, marries a digital alarm chronograph (the latter allows precision timekeeping) with analogue functionality, making it a pioneering hybrid diving watch.
Designed for extremes, with Japanese Seiko engineers testing that it could endure temperatures from as frigid as -40°C to as scorching as 60°C – this, in short, was the perfect accessory for an action-packed Arnold Schwarzenegger movie.
In 2019, a modernised version of The Arnie, the SNJ025, was launched.
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2. Panerai Luminor Marina 5218-203A
Another watch brand with a strong connection to Schwarzenegger is Italian luxury brand Panerai. Sylvester Stallone, Schwarzenegger’s friend and occasional rival, reportedly gifted him a Pre Vendôme Luminor Marina PVD 5218/203A from this Florence-based watchmaker, per GQ, which was originally known for supplying devices to the Royal Italian Navy.
Schwarzenegger wore the timepiece in his 1996 film Eraser, an appearance that played a pivotal role in elevating Panerai brand’s status and cultivating its dedicated fan base, who are known as the “Paneristi”.
3. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore End of Days
Schwarzenegger and Audemars Piguet share a long history of collaboration, with the Swiss brand releasing a number of limited edition watches to mark the release of the actor’s films, including the End of Days watch. It was designed by Schwarzenegger himself and the AP team to wear in the 1999 film End of Days, featuring a distinctive black carbon-fibre case, per GQ, contrasted with vivid yellow numerals and hands and finished with a practical Velcro strap.
And it’s not all about the styling: this model is powered by an automatic AP 3126 movement, with tachymeter (user speed-measuring capability), chronograph and date functions.
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4. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore “Arnold’s All-Star Governor’s Edition”
A later collaboration between Schwarzenegger and AP was this stately timepiece, aligning with his era as California’s governor from 2003 to 2011. With an 18k rose-gold case, rich brown dial with “Mega Tapisserie”, referring to its inset with repeated squares, and chic brown alligator strap, this design feels like a more refined turn for the actor-turned-politician. This automatic-movement is a departure from the sportier, sturdy watches he was known for earlier on in his career.
5. U-boat U-1942
“The Governator” also likes to wear niche watch brands such as U-boat. This Italian watchmaker is known for making handcrafted, limited edition pieces, designed by Italo Fontana, who is inspired by designs for the Royal Italian Navy in the 1940s. Schwarzenegger’s choice of U-boat, the U-1942, is crafted from titanium and boasts a substantial 64.4mm diameter. With just 250 units produced, it’s another rare watch for Arnie’s eclectic collection.
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6. Laco Pilot Watch Original Friedrichshafen
Austria-born Schwarzenegger shows some love towards his Germanic roots when he is seen sporting his Laco Friedrichshafen. This German watchmaker pays homage to the brand’s near-century-old legacy by meticulously recreating military observation watches from the 1940s.
This Pilot model that Arnie wears stands out for its stark, distinctive design, featuring a minimalist, functional dial with an inner ring for hours and an outer track for minutes. The brand stays true to historical accuracy by omitting any visible logo and is encased in a matt grey finish that would have minimised glare in the cockpit.
7. Rolex GMT-Master 1675
- Throughout his acting and political career, Schwarzenegger has built a fine luxury watches collection that began with rugged timepieces sported in many of his best-known films
- Dubbed ‘The Arnie’, a 1982-launched Seiko part-analogue, part-digital diving watch, is known for appearances in the actor’s 1980s blockbusters Commando and Predator