The most emblematic men's watches of all time

First published: 17-10-2014

Through televisual and cinematic history, where there have been charismatic leading men, there have often been some eye-catching and iconic watches. Whether it was Marty McFly in a race against time or James Bond looking to check he was on schedule for his third date of the week, they all needed to ensure that they were on timeâ€¦ or at least fashionably late.

We take a look at some of the most iconic watches to hit the big and small screens, all of which influenced fashion trends at the time, becoming instant must-haves.

Back To The Future (1985) - Casio CA53W Twincept Databank

This watch, as worn by Michael J. Fox's Marty McFly, was the first to include a calculator, alarm clock, 1/100 second stopwatch and auto calendar. It was also water-resistant, plus it was something millions of Back To The Future fans wanted as soon as they saw it, and is as synonymous with the 80's as Pac-Man or Rubiks Cube. The Men's Core Alarm Chronograph Watch is something that Marty would wear today.

Le Mans (1971) - Swiss Heuer Monaco

In Le Mans, this iconic timepiece was unique because of its rarity and design. The square clock had a blue dial with silver and red tints to complement Steve McQueen's racing suit. The original Monaco worn by the man that still influences the world of men's fashion today got sold at a Hollywood auction in 2012 for a cool Â£500k. Get the iconic look without breaking the bank with this suave Tissot Men's TXL Chronograph Watch.

L.A. Confidential (1997) - Bulova

Kevin Spacey's policeman, Jack Vincennes, may have had a modest salary, but that didn't stop him from wearing a pretty cool Bulova watch in L.A. Confidential. Featuring diamonds and subtle hints of pink, this watch had a slight feminine touch, whilst still remaining distinctively masculine. The closest thing to Spacey's timepiece Bulova make today is their Men's Diamond Gallery Watch.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - Hamilton

Approached by director Stanley Kubrick to create a watch that resembled a table clock, Hamilton came up with a timepiece that looked as futuristic as the visionary director's ground-breaking film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The film is now regarded a classic, and has inspired everyone from Spielberg with Close Encounters of the Third Kind, right up to Christopher Nolan, with his forthcoming epic, Interstellar (2014). The watch in 2001: A Space Odyssey, on the other hand, was so ahead of its time, we've seen nothing quite like it since.

Men in Black (1997) - Hamilton Ventura

Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones couldn't have battled the army of alien life-forms posing as humans without their array of supercool gadgets and weaponry. Equally as important was their look - they finished off their super-sharp, black suit and tie combo with the futuristic Hamilton Ventura. This timeless timepiece has long been iconic, and was a favourite of the King of Rock and Roll himself, Elvis Presley, who used to be the face of Hamilton.

Live and Let Die (1973) - Hamilton Pulsar

Made in 1973, Roger Moore's suave Bond switched between the Rolex Submariner and the futuristic Pulsar P2 2900, which was one of the first watches ever made to come equipped with a LED display. This set the tone for more futuristic timepieces to feature in the Bond movies and was the inspiration behind the Pulsomatic Watch.

Mad Men (2007) - Omega Seamaster DeVille

As worn by Don Draper himself, the Seamaster DeVille was one of the most expensive watches ever made in the 1960's. The Seamaster then went on to be worn in several Bond movies, while the DeVille strain was something people would wear to dinner. Steal Mr Draper's look with this similarly stylish, Rotary Les Originales Revelations Watch.