From Cameron’s Rolex to Ethan’s TAG Heuer: How the Watches of ‘White Lotus’ Match Their Characters
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It’s been said you can tell a lot about a person by what they wear, and that is certainly the case for the characters of The White Lotus. Their watches are uncannily well-matched to their identities, from the Rolex-wearing showoff financier Cameron Sullivan (Theo James) to the unassuming smartwatch-equipped tech tycoon, Ethan Spiller (Will Sharpe). Costume designer Alex Bovaird quite frankly nailed it. Ahead of season two’s much-anticipated finale on Sunday, here’s a look at what the cast of The White Lotus wore to match their zany character arcs. Which timepiece do you think will make it off the Sicilian island in one piece?
Dominic di Grasso: Panerai Submersible Quarantaquattro Goldtech Oro Carbo
Dominic di Grasso, played by actor Michael Imperioli, is in over his head. The big-shot Hollywood producer has some demons he’s hiding. A sex addict in the midst of a midlife crisis, his wife has left him and he’s desperate to reform—but it’s not working out so well. When he’s targeted by some ladies of the night at the posh resort, we see him struggle to avoid his impulses, while continuing to fall prey to his vices. This is a man who desperately wants to be respected but is leading a double life.
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His watch of choice, then, is fitting for his fragile existence. His $31,800 Panerai Submersible Quarantaquattro Goldtech Oro Carbo accurately reflects his well-heeled lifestyle, while driving home the message that he’s a man’s man who is in charge of his destiny. At 44 mm and made of Panerai’s proprietary GoldTech, a type of gold made with a percentage of copper that offers an intense red hue, it’s a watch that’s meant to be noticed. (In his case, it brings on the wrong kind of attention when the two women take his credit card for a shopping spree.)
But it’s also a tough-guy watch. With approximately 300 meters of water resistance, this automatic mechanical dive watch on a rubber strap comes equipped with three days of power reserve and an Incablock anti-shock device to prevent the movement from damage in case the watch gets knocked around. It makes for a nice metaphor for the secret life he’s protecting, but it’s also a reminder that he needs a watch that can withstand some time in the deep end. Literally speaking, however, di Grasso probably hasn’t ever willingly taken this tool watch for a dip.
Ethan Spiller: TAG Heuer Connected
Ethan, played by Will Sharpe, is a no-fuss, shorts and t-shirt kinda guy. He’s a reluctant billionaire that made his fortune in tech and therefore, unsurprisingly, wears a TAG Heuer Connected smartwatch. He’s also an avid runner, often bounding out of bed to work up a sweat around the island long before his wife, who he is not very connected with, ever wakes up.
It makes sense that he would opt for a relatively unassuming, practical and functional $1,800 wrist companion. It features a sports app for running, cycling, swimming, fitness and golf and also has a stopwatch, timer and alarm. And for a man like Ethan who is in the throes of an identity crisis—unsure how his new wealth and power define him—the watch offers several different faces for ever-changing moods.
Daphne Sullivan: Cartier Tank Louis Cartier
She may come off as a Real Housewife type (albeit sans the overload of plastic surgery) but actress Meghann Fahy’s character Daphne Sullivan isn’t as basic as she first appears. She puts on a good front as a neutrally amicable, good-humored and well-off woman who is seemingly happily married to a financier who provides her with a very comfortable lifestyle. The implication is she doesn’t work. As the show progresses, it turns out that she’s a lot more shrewd and savvy than she lets on. She knows about her husband’s infidelities and she’s not playing the victim. She’s getting even.
So, what does her $10,700 Cartier Tank Louis Cartier have to do with this character assessment? The timeless classic suggests she knows her intended role as a privileged and well-mannered woman. It’s a watch that works well in any circle but also suggests a level of sophistication and understated elegance. It is discreet while simultaneously suggesting a certain level of wealth in the right milieu. Perfect for someone like Mrs. Sullivan who is aiming to keep up appearances via old-school social norms—while discreetly maintaining her power in a way that is decidedly in the mindset of a 21st-century woman.
Cameron Sullivan: Rolex Submariner ‘Smurf’
Leave it to the finance bro to run around Sicily with the most bravado-drenched watch of them all. Cameron Sullivan’s Rolex Submariner “Smurf” Ref. 116619LB, a discontinued model that currently retails for $43,000 on the secondary market, was launched in 2008 to celebrate Rolex’s 100th year anniversary. It is the first Submariner to feature a case and bracelet made from elevated 18-karat white gold. It features a blue dial and blue Cerachrom bezel, the reason for its “Smurf” nickname in reference to the cartoon.
Sullivan, played by Theo James, is a BSD-type (with the goods to back it up, as evidenced in episode two). He’s swimming in privilege: He’s wealthy, good-looking and charismatic. Yet, he still needs to exert that he’s “the man.” That’s why, of course, his Smurf is so appropriate. Everyone knows Rolex, so everyone he encounters will know he’s well-off enough to buy one. Its blue dial and bezel are screaming to be noticed. And those that follow watches will know exactly how much it’s worth on the secondary market. “I got money baby. That’s one thing I do got,” Sullivan says in episode three to a couple of hopeful ladies that aren’t his wife.
Nevertheless, you’ve got to hand it to the guy. If he ever desperately needed to get off the island in an emergency (and White Lotus history proves he may need to), his would be the most liquid of the bunch.
Quentin: Rolex Datejust
An English expat vacationing with his friends and his nephew, Jack (Leo Woodall), Quentin is a shadowy character—a dark horse figure. It’s not entirely clear where his wealth comes from but he claims he inherited a palace in Palermo from his grandfather. He’s left with the upkeep and taxes of the aging and grandiose property. Is he property-rich but money poor? It’s not clear. Ahead of the season finale, audiences are being led to believe the character, played by Tom Hollander, could be a hitman hired by Jennifer Coolidge’s two-timing husband in order to access her wealth. In any case, he’s aiming for everyone to assume he’s rich while not drawing too much attention.
His Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust then is the perfect pick. It’s still pricey at $10,300 on the secondary market, but it’s not particularly showy. The stainless steel, white dial model is rather under-the-radar for this jet-set enclave. No one, for instance, will be talking about this guy’s Datejust, but everyone will feel perfectly comfortable that he fits right in with the pack.
The White Lotus season two finale is set to air on HBO on Sunday, December 11, at 9 pm ET.
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