World-class chefs have risen beyond the status of artists to become full-on celebrity personalities, and with that comes financial success and the luxury watches that signify it. We can’t help but be fascinated, and it’s irresistible to analyze what the watches they choose might reflect about their culture and persona. Does it mirror their tastes or ethos in the kitchen? Does it mark a milestone such as opening a restaurant or earning a Michelin star? Season 3 of the hit FX TV series The Bear imbues its culinary characters’ wristwear choices with symbolism that will engross any fan of the show.

Within the opening moments of Season 3 we find Carmy, the main character and owner of The Bear restaurant, adrift in his mind, searching back through formative moments in his career working and studying alongside some of the best chefs (both real and fictional) in the world. The focus and obsessiveness of each action, each movement, each dish, is illustrated for the viewer through precise movement of skilled hands. On many of these wrists are watches to which the enthusiast’s eye will be drawn — each distinct and conspicuously present, as though they are meant to specifically give us insight into the character.

Throughout each episode of the series, we are reminded, furiously at times, that in the finest kitchens in the world, every second counts. It’s a mantra repeated over and over again — the difference between a perfect service, a perfect temperature, a perfect dish, and disaster. A moment of particular note, recalls where he is told that a wagyu steak needs five more seconds in the broiler. That’s five seconds between perfection and trash.

It sounds ridiculous, but this is the reality of many fine dining kitchens throughout the world. Indeed, few other films or TV shows have ever been able to capture the intensity, the chaos, or the perfection of professional kitchens like The Bear. In representing an industry that strives for perfection to the point of absurdity, it was an equally intentional choice to highlight the watches that these characters do, and don’t, wear.

According to a recent interview in British GQ with The Bear prop master Laura Roeper, “In fine dining culture and in chef culture, watches are actually a huge thing. They’re a status symbol. First of all, a lot of chefs have watches that kind of say, ‘I’ve arrived, I’ve done it, look what I’ve got.’ The second thing is time. They’re looking at it all-day, every day. Literally every second counts, so their watch is also a tool.”

Watches in The Bear

Marcus – Tissot Gentlemen Powermatic 80

One of the most notable wrist shots in the series is of the young pastry chef, Marcus, who has been singularly focused throughout the 3 seasons of the show. His growth has been incredible, as he both defines and refines his own style and tastes in his work. This same development is shown in his choice of wristwear.

In past seasons he was seen wearing a Casio G-Shock, but in this season he has evolved, now seen wearing a Tissot Gentlemen Powermatic 80 with a deep green dial. It’s an elevated choice, if modest compared to other watches seen in the show. It shows Marcus’ aspiration for the finer things in life and in his own work, representing his own growth and triumph.

Chef Luca – Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra

We met chef Luca in Season 2, when Marcus went to Copenhagen to study. During that time, we see his expertise, his focus, and his determination to create confections of utter perfection. Notably, in many of those scenes he is not wearing a watch. When we see Luca again in Season 3, it is at the funeral dinner for Ever, a semi-fictionalized version of a real two-Michelin-star restaurant in Chicago.

At the dinner, Luca is joined by many real world chefs, who spend the evening reminiscing about the peaks and valleys of their careers. On Luca’s wrist is the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra. It’s a sturdy, practical watch, though no less elegant for its understated quality. The perfect fit for Luca’s own personality, which is quiet and understated, belying the creative flair and passion beneath the surface.

Chef Fields – Breitling Super Chronomat 44 Four-Year Calendar

Chef David Fields has been the specter in Carmy’s mind throughout the duration of the show — his toxic instruction and ruthless criticism driving Carmy to the brink of full on PTSD. At first glance, the Breitling Super Chronomat 44 Four-Year Calendar seems an odd choice for the Chef, whose kitchen is modern and clean to the point of minimalist austerity.

But despite the cleanliness and exactitude of both his kitchen and his expectations of Carmy, there is a dramatic flamboyance to chef Fields beneath the surface. He enjoys his cruelty, relishes in his severity. He is as creative with his insults and belittling as he is with his menu. While at first blush one might expect him to wear a more traditional or minimalistic timepiece, a 44mm, two-tone calendar watch with a bright blue dial, somehow fits with the character’s own contradictions.

Chef Terry – Rolex Submariner

Throughout the series, chef Terry is a beacon of light (the antithesis of chef Fields) and acts as a guide for both Carmy and Cousin Richie to higher levels of capability and passion for the world of fine dining. She is a kind, loving chef, but no less serious when it comes to even the most minute details. On the wall of her kitchen is a clock and a sign which reads “Every Second Counts.”

Chef Terry is seen wearing a Rolex Submariner, both in the flashback scenes where she is teaching Carmy and Luca, and during the funeral dinner for her beloved restaurant. Clinking her watch against a champagne glass to gain everyone’s attention, in a mousy tone of voice, she even calls attention to the fact that she used her Rolex.

Though it is difficult to say for certain, it looks like the watch is actually a Submariner Ref. 16610. This likely means that she purchased the watch many years ago, likely in celebration of Ever’s success. Now, as she bids farewell to the establishment that meant so much to the chefs seen at the dinner, one can imagine that her watch, along with the “Every Second Counts” sign that she wistfully takes down from the wall, will continue to hold deep meaning for chef Terry — the time that came and went, and the time yet to come as she looks to a bright, but uncertain future.

The Finest Watches for the Finest Chefs

Daniel Boulud & Thomas Keller

In addition to the fictional chefs that guide Carmy’s development, a few real world-class celebrity chefs make cameos, including Daniel Boulud (owner of Daniel and Le Pavillon in New York City, alongside 13 other restaurants) and Thomas Keller (owner of The French Laundry, Per Se and eight other restaurants). It suffices to say that both chefs are absolute legends and each represents the pinnacle of culinary excellence.

Both chefs are also seen wearing Rolexes — and relatively prestigious ones at that. During several instructional scenes, Boulud can be seen wearing a Rolex GMT Master II Oyster-Steel & Everose “Rootbeer,” the perfect watch for someone who requires exactitude, as well as the need to keep track of the time in the multiple time zones corresponding to his many restaurants. Similarly, Keller is seen wearing what looks to be a white gold Rolex Daytona on an Oysterflex strap. One can easily imagine Keller timing specific tasks on it in the course of a busy dinner service.

But lest we suspect that this is simply clever product placement or a bit of extra glamor for the screen, it’s worth noting that both chefs are, in real life, watch enthusiasts and collectors. As such it is entirely likely that the watches worn on screen are in fact their own personal watches. Indeed, many real world chefs can be seen wearing world-class watches in their own lives and kitchens.

Dominique Crenn – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

Dominique Crenn is the founder of Atelier Crenn and, as of 2016, the only female chef in the United States to earn three Michelin stars. It suffices to say that Crenn is one of the most dynamic and talented chefs working today. To put it more simply, she’s an absolute rock star. In keeping with that persona, Crenn is regularly seen wearing a number of different Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks.

Eric Ripert – Vacheron Constantin

Eric Ripert owns Le Bernardin, a legendary three-Michelin-star seafood restaurant in New York City. It is consistently rated among the best restaurants in both the United States and the world. Ripert has long been known to be a lover of fine watches, specifically the work of Vacheron Constantin. He is regularly seen wearing watches such as the Vacheron Constantin Overseas in stainless steel and the Historiques American 1921.

Kristen Kish – Rolex Cellini

Kristen Kish is the Executive Chef at Arlo Grey in Austin, TX, and has been a rising star in the culinary world for many years now. Her accolades include winning the tenth season of the TV show Top Chef, hosting multiple cooking competitions like Iron Chef: Quest for a Legend alongside Alton Brown (more on him in a moment) and the culinary travel show Restaurants at the End of the World on National Geographic. From the onlooker’s perspective, it looks like Kish’s main watch is a beautiful Rolex Cellini – an elevated choice for someone who appreciates fine detail and traditional technique, but adapted to her own distinct style.

Alton Brown – Brew Relic

No list discussing the intersection of the culinary and horological world would be complete without mentioning Alton Brown. While not a chef in the traditional sense, Brown has been a mainstay in the culture of food and entertainment for decades. A writer, food scientist, and TV Presenter, Brown has likely forgotten more culinary knowledge than most mere mortals will ever possess. He is also a massive watch nerd. From vintage Rolexes to his father’s fabled Omega Chronostop, Brown has a wide variety of tastes. But perhaps the most interesting, is his collaboration with beloved microbrand Brew Watches, the Retrograph Relic.