FeatureThe Chef’s Special: MasterChefs and their watches

Have you heard of the term ‘frequency illusion’ or to be more specific, the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon? Before you start wondering why I am imparting psychological knowledge on a watch blog titled ‘MasterChefs and their watches’, let me quickly explain the phenomenon. The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, is a phenomenon that occurs when the thing you’ve just noticed, experienced or been told about keeps cropping up constantly. It gives you the feeling that you are just surrounded by that subject. And it’s not just a coincidence; you are definitely seeing it more. Because subconsciously, you’re noticing it more. That has happened to you, right? I hadn’t really paid heed to it, and then it happened to me.

It all started last month when I was watching MasterChef Australia season 8 one night. Apart from the delectable dishes, what caught my eye was Chef George Calombaris’ Zenith Pilot Type 20 watch. And after that, I just couldn’t stop noticing. I was catching the re-runs of MasterChef USA and other food shows when I again noticed that all these chefs had a penchant for luxury watches.

Apart from their love for gourmet food, these MasterChefs share a weakness for classic timepieces. So without further ado, The Watch Guide presents the top Masterchefs, their watches and our recommendations for your wrist. You never know, these watches might just ignite the hidden chef in you!

1) Gordon Ramsay

Any chef list would be incomplete without this name. Gordon James Ramsay is a world-renowned chef whose restaurants have been awarded 16 Michelin stars and his passion for cooking is known to all. Anyone who has seen Hell’s kitchen, MasterChef USA and Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares knows how passionate and particular he is about culinary skills. But what isn’t really known about him is that he is equally passionate about watches. He’s been spotted wearing Breitling on numerous occasions.

2) Graham Elliot

This utterly adorable chef won our hearts when he judged MasterChef USA and MasterChef Junior. The youngest chef in the United States of America to receive four stars from a major publication (Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times) – all before the age of 30, Elliot has a way with gastronomy. His love for colours and fashion is pretty evident on screen by the clothes and eye-wear he sports. You’d think someone with such an unconventional style would sport a similar watch, but no! When it comes to watches, Graham Elliot has been sporting a classic Panerai – PAM00329.

His choice of Panerai – the PAM00329, represents the fact that he knows his watches inside out. A Luminor 1950 3 days GMT Automatic Acciaio, the watch has features which represent hours, minutes, small seconds, date, GMT, seconds reset, with a power reserve indicator on the case back. A sturdy steel 44mm watch with an in-house automatic movement, resonates the personality of this headstrong chef.

Our Recommendation:

We wanted to add an unconventional touch to Elliot’s conventional watch, which is why we chose the Panerai PAM00088, the Luminor GMT Automatic Acciaio – 44mm. With almost the same features as Elliot’s Panerai namely, hours, minutes, small seconds, date, GMT, a power reserve of 42 hours and water resistance up to 300 metres, PAM00088 is very similar to PAM00329. But what sets this watch apart is the exclusive Panerai OP VIII calibre. It’s strength lies in the automatic COSC certified mechanical movement which is accurate to 1/8th of a second. Features including an AISI 316L polished steel case, a black dial with luminous Arabic numerals and markers, a 24-hour indication on the inner rim of the dial and a date & seconds window at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock respectively, make this the perfect Panerai.

Watch Fact: Recently, George Elliot has shed oodles of weight and has been seen wearing a sleek TAG Heuer to complement his newly attained fit physique.

3) Vikas Khanna

Just like other chefs on this list, this name needs no introduction. His success story began long before he made an appearance on MasterChef India. This ambitious, talented, award winning Michelin star Indian chef runs the famous Junoon restaurant in New York. Born and brought up in Amritsar, Vikas Khanna believes in simplicity and is attached to his roots. His personality, wardrobe and even his watch are in tandem with this philosophy. Simple and charismatic, the IWC Portofino seems to be Vikas’s favourite for he’s been spotted wearing the watch on numerous occasions.

A classic creation by IWC, the Portofino is a minimalist, clean timepiece. Set in 18-carat red gold, the 42mm elegant case adds a dash of colour to the otherwise simple watch. The silver-plated dial with gold indices sets the undertone of the watch. Looks aside, the Calibre 75320 self-winding mechanical chronograph movement assures precision. A taskmaster, the Portofino, when fully wound, has a power reserve of 44 hours.

Our Recommendation:

The watch is such a classic that we couldn’t think of recommending anything but this spectacular timepiece owned by Vikas Khanna. When it comes to ease of usage and functionality, the day and date windows sit conveniently at 3’o clock. Because it is a chronograph, it comes with a stopwatch function with hours, minutes, seconds and small hacking seconds. Water resistant up to 30 metres, the red gold case back is a sight to behold. With International Watch Co. and the village of Portofino engraved, the finishing touch to the watch is given by the dark brown alligator leather strap. Balancing charm and functionality, the IWC Portofino is your go to classic watch.

4) George Calombaris

Finally, we turn to the chef who is the reason behind why I even thought of doing this post! The zestiest among the MasterChef Australia trio of judges, George Calombaris is known for his love for authenticity and originality, whether it’s to do with his food or even his watch. Spotted wearing a Zenith Pilot Type 20 on numerous occasions, the watch represents his preference for ingenuity and functionality.

A connoisseur’s choice watch, the Zenith Pilot has a piece of Australian aviation history attached to it. The timepiece is a tribute to Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and was released at Baselworld 2014. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was an Australian aviator who made the first trans-pacific flight from the United States to Australia. The watch also features the  Southern Cross constellation on the blue dial.  The titanium and 18K rose gold case houses the automatic Zenith Elite 693 movement with a 50-hour power reserve. The blue and red GMT hand gives it a unique look. Best part about the watch? It’s presented on a sharp brown alligator strap (that complements the blue dial to perfection) with a titanium pin buckle that features the Zenith star.

Our recommendation:

If you appreciate aesthetics and functionality, the Zenith Pilot Doublematic is the watch for you. Set in a 45mm steel case with a matt black dial which houses the famous self-winding movement El Primero 4046, the watch is a multitasker.

With features such as a world timer, a chronograph representing central hours and minutes with the 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock and big date window at 2’0 clock, this spectacular timepiece also comes with an alarm power reserve display at 7 o’clock. The El Primero 4046 supplies the watch with a 50-hour power reserve and functions at a frequency of 36,000 vph. SuperLuminova makes a presence on the hands of the watch. The alligator leather strap with hand-sewn top-stitching and a folding clasp binds this timepiece on your wrist. To know more about this watch, or to get more information on Zenith, please call our luxury watch consultants at +91 8725028896.

Know of other interesting watches worn by MasterChefs that we may have missed out on? Let us know in the comments section below!