This yr formed as much as be – unofficially – the yr of Ridley Scott. The Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), and Gladiator (2001) director was feeling relatively prolific (even at 84 years outdated), releasing two movies in The Final Duel and Home of Gucci in the identical calendar yr. One is a interval piece set in medieval England, the opposite a interval piece set in Eighties and ’90s Italy. Each have star-studded casts, and each function Adam Driver – albeit in very completely different roles.
As we speak we’re centered on Home of Gucci, an entire and utter vibe of a movie that captured the eye of each the watch and broader trend worlds when a single photograph was launched of Driver and Girl Gaga of their roles as Maurizo Gucci and Patrizia Reggiani.
Home of Gucci poster
The movie is as campy because it will get – although I worry unintentionally – and illustrates the lives of the lavish, wealthy, and well-known Gucci household. Which means drama, betrayal, infighting, and quite a lot of pretend Italian accents. Nevertheless it additionally means watches …. so many watches from so many manufacturers. Our man Driver (beforehand on WM for his function in Marriage Story) wears two completely different items within the movie, each gold, however in distinctly completely different shapes.
Why We’re Watching
The movie simply turned out there for buy digitally a few week in the past, and is ready to hit cabinets on Blu-Ray this coming Tuesday (this goes out to the 9 readers with a Blu-Ray participant). So for all who missed the possibility to see a wide range of takes on the Italian accent from a few of Hollywood’s most interesting actors in theaters, your time has come. And so has ours to function this movie and its attention-grabbing tackle watches. I say attention-grabbing as a result of, like a number of motion pictures featured on this column, the manufacturing crew in both the props or costume departments didn’t appear to care a lot about matching the watches to the interval – like in any respect.
Maurizio and Aldo Gucci (Adam Driver and Al Pacino) with JLC Reverso and Breguet Classique on wrists in Home of Gucci. Screengrab, MGM
Home of Gucci looks like a movie aspiring to be a real-life tackle The Godfather (1972) solely as a substitute of the mob, it’s the style world, and as a substitute Al Pacino enjoying Michael Corleone, he performs Aldo Gucci, former model chairman and son of founder Guccio Gucci. It tracks the wedding of Gucci (Aldo’s nephew) and Reggiani (performed by Driver and Gaga), and the eventual shift from a small household enterprise to a publicly traded trend conglomerate.
Getting again to the interval watch goofs, there’s a slew of luxurious timepieces to feast your eyes on on this movie from Pacino’s Breguet Classique Energy Reserve Moonphase in gold (worn within the ’80s and ’90s, however this specific mannequin was produced within the early 2010s), or Jeremy Irons’ watch – what resembles a gold Vacheron Constantin Abroad (worn in the identical interval, however seems like a contemporary variant produced within the early 2000s). The identical goes for Driver’s Maurizio who wears what look to be a JLC Reverso Traditional Monoface and a Boucheron Épure, each wildly incorrect for the interval.
The Boucheron Épure in Home of Gucci. Screengrab, MGM
Comparable Boucheron Épure to the one worn by Adam Driver in Home of Gucci
We truly see the Boucheron the very second the movie opens (which foreshadows the movie’s ending), nevertheless it’s the gold Reverso that will get the lion’s share of consideration within the film. It’s simple to mistake the look ahead to a Cartier Tank as a result of comparable case form, however there are a number of close-ups that enable us to see the dial and establish the signature Reverso Arabic numerals.
Maurizio (Driver) and his Reverso in Home of Gucci. Screengrab, MGM
The Reverso is without doubt one of the most fascinating horological innovations of our time. It’s small, rectangular, and unassuming, however packs extra info than a watch twice its measurement. That’s as a result of because the title suggests, it’s reversible, that means you possibly can flip the watch over inside the case and examine completely different info on both facet of the watch. With Maurizio’s watch, it’s simplified. It’s referred to as the Monoface as a result of there is just one … face. If you flip it over you’re greeted by a strong caseback. So you possibly can put on the watch and never inform the time if you wish to (form of like automobiles that allow you to cover the infotainment display).
Comparable JLC Reverso to the watch worn by Driver as Maurizio Gucci in Home of Gucci
Maurizio wears this by means of a lot of the movie, pairing it with each his big range of bespoke fits, in addition to simply an undershirt. If this had been a period-correct watch, it might be the proper piece for a design-forward visionary like Maurizio (or not less than that’s how he noticed himself). It’s not your extraordinary watch – it’s small, nevertheless it says quite a bit about style, and goes with mainly every part.
Then there’s the watch not worn, however solely talked about. For those who aren’t a deep watch lover, the phrases uttered on this transient second of the movie may go in a single ear and out the opposite, however for lots of us right here at HODINKEE, it’s the one factor we are able to discuss. I’m in fact referring to the scene the place Driver’s Maurizio mentions the Patek Philippe ref. 2523 and his curiosity in probably shopping for one. For many who don’t know, the ref. 2523 is the Patek classic world timer. These are uncommon watches that we solely see at public sale lately. I had the possibility to not solely cowl one lately, however see it and deal with it within the metallic at Phillips. That was a selected 2523 Eurasia dial that went on to promote for over $8 million. For sure, it was cool to listen to his character talk about this piece of horological esoterica. How this ended up within the script, I do not know – however I like that it did.
Patek Philippe ref. 2523 Eurasia dial, which was auctioned at Phillips final yr.
We can also’t discuss Home of Gucci with out mentioning Jared Leto’s tragic efficiency as Paolo – the Fredo of the Gucci household. Fittingly, due to how a lot he loves the household enterprise, he wears a basic gold Gucci watch with signature inexperienced and crimson dial that reveals up a number of instances within the movie. It’s attention-grabbing that the opposite family members aren’t outfitted with Gucci watches of their very own, however in the end not that shocking. The delivery of Gucci’s watchmaking efforts occurred within the early Seventies when the model turned one in every of, if not the, first makers of trend watches. With the entire wealth, opulence, and showiness, it is sensible for the patron saints of Gucci to sport items of haute horology whereas Paolo is on the market as a strolling horological billboard.
Paolo Gucci (Jared Leto) knocked to the bottom along with his gold Gucci watch in Home of Gucci. Screengrab, MGM
When We’re Watching
The opening shot, as alluded to above, introduces us to Maurizio, and his style in watches. We instantly see him verify the time [00:01:19] at a small cafe desk within the metropolis sq. and get a comparatively unobstructed view of the gold Boucheron on a darkish brown leather-based strap. That is an odd watch selection and it’s as equally misplaced because the JLC (when it comes to interval accuracy), nevertheless it additionally reveals the willingness of his character to put on watches that he loves, and never essentially items which can be sizzling, or well-liked. It’s additionally refreshing to see a model like this, one which I frankly was considerably unfamiliar with, in a serious movement image.
Screengrab, MGM
Halfway by means of the film, we discover Maurizio and Reggiani within the kitchen of their house – Maurizio ironing his shirt. The cellphone rings. Pacino’s Aldo is on the opposite finish making an invite to Driver to his birthday celebration – step one in his eventual quest to firmly snatch what’s his household proper, and take his place atop the management of the Gucci model. Maurizio, reluctant to take action, acquiesces at his spouse’s request [00:33:05]. All through this scene, we are able to see the gold Reverso on its black leather-based strap.
Screengrab, MGM
Home of Gucci (starring Adam Driver and Girl Gaga) is directed by Ridley Scott with props by Federico Ciommo. It’s available for purchase on iTunes or Amazon.
Lead illustration, Andy Gottschalk
