Silicon Valley elite like Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook are obsessed with these watches

Omega has been making Swiss luxury watches since 1848. The 1970 Apollo 13 mission relied on the capabilities of the Omega Speedmaster watch to help the crew return safely to and from Earth.

In 2021, Jeff Bezos wore an Omega Speedmaster on his own expedition into space.

Elon Musk has also been seen wearing an Omega watch. His model of choice appears to be the Seamaster Aqua Terra, according to GQ.

And more recently, Hitchcock said she has clients asking after an Omega made in collaboration with fellow watchmaker Swatch. The Mission to the Moonphase collection features two space-themed watches with Snoopy from “Charlie Brown” on the dials for $310.

“That one actually is a very low ticket one, but it’s sought after by a handful of people already,” she said.

Apple debuted its Apple Watch in 2015, and it quickly gained popularity among those looking for wearable technology. Apple Watch models range from a few hundred dollars to over $1,000 on the company’s official site.

While most of Silicon Valley sports understated gray or black smartwatch faces — including 23andMe’s Anne Wojcicki — some women gravitate toward yellow or rose gold accents for the face, Hitchcock said.

Zuckerberg was among many billionaires invited to a wedding hosted by India’s richest family. A clip of him being stunned by Anant Ambani’s 18-karat rose gold Richard Mille RMS10 Asia Tourbillon Koi fish Edition went viral online.

The watch, which has a dial decorated with koi fish — as the name suggests, falls under the “distinctive” category that Hitchcock said more tech execs are looking for.

“You know, I never really wanted a watch, but after seeing that, I was like, ‘Watches are cool,'” Zuckerberg can be heard saying in the video.

The blinged-out timepiece would reportedly cost him about $1.25 million, but he can certainly afford it.

Zuck, however, was recently seen wearing a De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius watch at a live taping of the “Acquired” podcast.

The Varius model costs around $90,000 to $95,700, but there’s also a fancier Aérolite model — which includes a dial made from a meteorite — that can cost around $260,000, according to price estimates, and features a pattern of the Milky Way galaxy gilded with 24-carat gold leaf.

This isn’t the ultra-rare, uber-expensive Cartier Crash he’s been seen in, but the watch still makes a statement with its yellow dial.

Still, exactly which brand he decided to wear to the Super Bowl in February is unclear.

“They are the same people who are buying the old-school kind of daddy sneakers or grandpa sneaker buyers,” she said, adding that there’s a nostalgia factor to the brand.

Because Panerai produces just a fraction of the timepieces that a brand like Rolex does yearly, they’re not likely to be spotted on everyone, Hitchcock explained.  

“Part of the allure is recognizing its small group of in-the-know fans,” she said. “Those that know it definitely discuss it amongst each other in social settings and business.”

But Altieri said that Panerai has experienced a “lull in marketability” compared to other luxury watches in 2024. Still, he said the company has the potential to bounce back.

Timex watches have been worn by celebrities and US presidents alike. Hitchcock said the no-frills functional brand is also a staple in the tech industry.

“I believe that a good timepiece, even if it’s a Timex or Casio, does say something about someone,” Hitchcock told BI. “It should have function; it should be streamlined and customized to that person’s personal brand and personality.”