3 of Jon Batiste’s rocking luxury watches: Stephen Colbert’s ex bandleader showed off Vacheron Constantin at the Grammys and US brand J.N. Shapiro at the Oscars … he loves Tiffany & Co. too

Jun 2 , 2024

Jon Baptiste takes centerstage this awards season, showcasing his sharp style with luxury watches and designer suits. Photos: @jonbatiste/Instagram

Jon Batiste is having a serious moment right now. At Coachella in April, he delivered a moving piano accompaniment for headliner Lana Del Rey. He also gave two stand-out performances of his own across the festival’s two weekends. He was joined by Willow Smith and rapper Juvenile for the first, while Nigerian singer Fireboy DML and a raucous group of singers and musicians put on a dynamic display during the second, creating two of the festival’s most buzzworthy moments.

He’s also been a fixture on the stages and red carpets of major awards ceremonies including the Grammys, following the critical success of the Netflix documentary American Symphony, which documents his life and features his musical scoring.

Jon Batiste at the 96th Annual Oscars held at Ovation Hollywood in March, in Los Angeles, California. Photo: WWD via Getty Images

With five Grammys, a Golden Globe and two Oscars under his belt – among a slew of other awards and nominations – Batiste is renowned for his musical versatility, showcasing his chops on everything from piano to drums and guitar in live performances.

But he’s also famous for being one of the best-dressed men in the music industry – a field with serious competition – and he’s slowly been emerging as a connoisseur of fine watches, sporting several impressive luxury timepieces recently.

Here’s a look at three of the stand-out watches worn by the effortlessly cool Jon Batiste.

1. Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon

Jon Batiste shows off his Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon timepiece at the Grammys

At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in February, Batiste hit the red carpet with his signature swagger, dressed in a silver Atelier Versace suit with a kilt and Christian Louboutin leather boots. It was a bold fashion statement that seemed to echo his innovative musical sense.

Equally impressive was his choice of watch: a Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon, per Robb Report. Any tourbillon is already a fine specimen, but the Overseas Tourbillon by the Swiss manufacturer is arguably a cut above the rest. The impressive piece of wrist candy features a striking blue dial and an intricate tourbillon cage inspired by the Maltese cross that’s a historic symbol of protection.

The Grammy nominee – who was up for six awards at this year’s event, but didn’t take any home – wore a truly lavish version of Vacheron’s luxury timepiece with a white-gold case and a dazzling bezel that comes alive under lights, thanks to its 60 baguette-cut diamonds.

2. J.N. Shapiro Resurgence

Jon Batiste with his wife Suleika Jaouad at the 2024 Academy Awards; Batiste is wearing his J.N. Shapiro Resurgence

A month later, Batiste popped up on the red carpet again, this time at the 96th Academy Awards wearing another formidable luxury watch. As part of the ceremony, he performed his Oscar-nominated song “It Never Went Away”, the end credit track for the documentary American Symphony, which chronicles a year in Batiste’s life that included his wife’s battle with leukaemia.

According to Men’s Journal, Batiste chose an especially poignant timepiece for his performance: a J.N. Shapiro Resurgence. This brand has been recognised for reviving the US watchmaking industry, with last year’s launch of the Resurgence heralded as the first American-made watch in over 50 years.

Possibly as a nod to American Symphony, Batiste proudly sported this “made-in-America” watch in 18k rose gold with a frosted silver dial and its signature guilloche pattern, a model worth upwards of US$85,000.

3. Breil Orchestra

A Breil watch, similar to the one owned by Jon Batiste. Photo: Ebay

During his seven-year stint as Stephen Colbert’s bandleader on The Late Show, Batiste was frequently spotted wearing another lesser-known watch brand, Breil.

Based in Milan, this long-established Italian brand is known for its wide-ranging collection of durable, fashion-forward watches with a luxurious appearance, without the dizzying price tag – all models on its website are priced well under €1,000 (US$1,100).

Based on appearances on The Late Show and a 2017 photo shoot with Coveteur, Batiste appears to have a very simple yet chic black and gold Breil Orchestra.

Bonus: Tiffany & Co. HardWear bracelets

Jon Batiste walks the red carpet at the 2024 Golden Globes with his Tiffany jewellery and Dior suit

They aren’t technically luxury watches, but Batiste is a man who also loves to adorn his wrists with bangles and bracelets – especially if they’re gold and extravagant.

Case in point: Robb Report spotted not one but four Tiffany & Co. bracelets adorning his wrists at the Golden Globes in January, set against a muted backdrop of a jet-black Dior suit. Batiste opted for striking yellow-gold accents from the brand’s HardWear collection, which features a grittier, more industrial design with chains, links and ball motifs that reflect New York’s bold architecture styles.

Apparently not one to under-accessorise, Batiste also wore several Tiffany & Co. rings, a Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany Starfish Brooch with a three-carat aquamarine stone, and a HardWear diamond link necklace in 18k gold valued at an eye-watering US$75,000.

Timepieces

Before his electrifying Coachella showing – he performed with Lana Del Rey and Willow Smith – Jon Batiste hit this year’s awards shows wearing sharp suits and exquisite timepieces
The ever-stylish Batiste wore US brand J.N. Shapiro – possibly as a nod to his work on docu American Symphony – and dons fashion pieces by Dior, Versace and Christian Louboutin too