In The Devil Wears Prada 2, “There’s Absolutely Tonnes of Watches”

Yes, yes, yes, the fashion in The Devil Wears Prada 2 is largely fabulous and has already been well discussed, but what of the watches featured? Well, I’m glad you asked. Because the film is littered with multiple watch spots on pretty much every cast member, from Meryl Streep’s main-character-energy Miranda all the way through the masthead to Andy’s assistant, Jin Chao, played by the inimitable Helen J. Shen.

“I cannot believe how exponentially huge the watch culture is now,” says Molly Rogers, the legendary costume designer who dressed the Devil for both films. “I’ve noticed how much of a status symbol it is on men in particular, up there with their cars. Watches are a very important accessory, and there’s levels, from starter status symbol to grail within each watchmaker too. It’s a serious obsession.”

To ensure this cultural obsession – it certainly exists within the fashion world – was portrayed accordingly throughout the film, Rogers worked closely with prop master general Diana Burton, who has worked on everything from Leon to Vanilla Sky and Sex in the City 2 and Succession.

Over the years, Burton has built up what she describes as a “kit”, comprising all manner of vintage watches and special timepieces. Together with her second-to-none watch industry contacts, she was ready to deliver a masterclass in carefully curated watch placements. Character by character, here’s every watch everyone wore in The Devil Wears Prada 2.

Miranda, played by Meryl Streep

In the original, real ones will remember Miranda wore a unique gold Cartier Scalloped Shell piece. Rogers told me that they did try to source the same watch again then decided that given the pressure Miranda (still RUNWAY’s editor in chief), was under in the sequel, she needed to be a bit more pared back in the watch stakes.

“That played big time into the placements. Miranda was definitely getting less fancy and her vibe and desire was to streamline her look; expensive, but much less glitzy than the first film, much more lowkey,” says Burton. “That’s why we chose a Cartier Française, because it’s a classic everyday watch but you still know it’s not a watch everybody gets to wear.” In fact, Miranda interchanged between a steel version and a gold version of the Française depending on what she was wearing and how she was accessorising. And at (spoiler alert) Irv’s funeral, the Devil also wears AP; pulling out one of the new mini frosted Mini Royal Oaks – because if there’s one place you should dress to impress, it’s at your boss’ wake.

Andy, played by Anne Hathaway

In DWP2, a now grown up Andy starts off by getting fired from her job while simultaneously winning a journalism award, and ends by essentially saving RUNWAY from being bought by an evil tech billionaire. Her watches match this career trajectory. “Andy started off with a Sharp watch with a black leather strap from my kit – it was perfect for her because it was small, not ostentatious and a working woman’s kind of watch,” says Burton. We’re talking £25 from eBay, but at a certain point in the movie (when she’s enters Miranda and Nigel’s inner circle) she ditches the Sharp and goes for a black dial Bvlgari Bvlgari. “It was an upgrade when she started to rise in her confidence and her place in the Runway world, she had some successes. It wasn’t screaming glamour, it was just a beautiful everyday watch,” adds Burton. And given Hathaway is a Bvlgari ambassador IRL, it’s no surprise to spot her wearing a Bvlgari Serpenti Turbogas and another more glitzy Bvlgari Bvlgari piece.

Nigel, played by Stanley Tucci

The true darling of the movie is Stanley Tucci’s Nigel, an institution in the RUNWAY world. “Oh, we had so many watches for him,” says Burton, “and it was all up to Stanley what he wore.”

Nigel’s everyday piece was a Cartier Santos Dumont with a black strap and black dial (all black is fashion’s chicest option) and he also had a Hamilton American Classic Boulton Quartz Watch, a green dialled Bvlgari Bvlgari and a Piaget AltiPlano Ultimate in his closet but “I don’t know if all of them made it into the film”.

Benji, played by Justin Theroux

Justin Theroux plays the aforementioned tech billionaire who absolutely isn’t based on Jeff Bezos. If his watch collection is anything to go by, he’s more Mark Zuckerberg vibes as he flexes some super complicated watches – namely a Jacob and Co Epic X Skeleton and a big-dick energy AP Royal Oak. “I love when I can get something like that on somebody because it’s unique and it just says what it says,” says Burton. And then, in true tech bro form, he also has an Apple Watch Ultra on a black chain link bracelet.

Irv and his son, Jay, played by Tibor Feldman and B.J. Novak

When you are the RUNWAY chairman, the circles you are in means that a Rolex is almost an obligatory luxury to own. Irv has a gold Datejust for special occasions but his daily driver is a bit of an IYKYK piece; a Bulova dress watch with a black dial from Burton’s kit.

Jay, his son, and future heir to RUNWAY’s publishing business, is perhaps the biggest surprise when it comes to wristwear. He flipped between wearing an ice blue Breitling Chronomat B012 Chronograph and a baby blue Grand Seiko Heritage.

Jin Chao, played by Helen J. Shen

All of the assistants brought they watch A-game too; Charlie (played by Caleb Hearon) wore a Mercedes gold quartz watch (also from Burton’s kit) that looks the business, Miranda’s PA Amari (played by Simone Ashley) stacked her Cartier Panthère de Cartier with lots of gold and silver bracelets, while Jin Chao, Andy’s keen and ambitious assistant, wore a fun Casio G Shock with a pink strap. “She’s an iconoclast and in that world, she was resourceful and smart, but also a bit of an outlier so we gave her a G shock because she was awesome.”