Here’s What Henry Cavill Really Wants in a Watch

5 min readHenry Cavill cares more about his brisket than some people care about, well … anything. I learn this during New York Fashion Week, in a beautifully appointed retail-slash-hospitality space called Quarters on Broadway, just south of Canal Street. During my time there, this is the temporary home of Longines. The Swiss watchmaker is in town to celebrate the launch of the new Master Collection, a lineup of high-end timepieces that blend modern innovation with classic good looks. Cavill is here because he’s an Ambassador of Elegance for Longines, a position he’s held since early 2025.He’s also here to talk barbecue. In front of a packed room, in conversation with Esquire’s executive editor Madison Vain, he tells the folks in attendance about a recent summer Sunday when he woke up before dawn to start the smoker and get that brisket going. It wound up dry, but with a good bark. He also made ribs, buffalo chicken dip, coleslaw, beans. But the brisket bugged him. You can tell, even well after the fact, that this is a man who invests himself sincerely in whatever he’s doing—whether it’s Warhammer, watches, or well-done meat.So, yeah. He was disappointed with the brisket. But that Sunday was spent with family, drinking a few beers, enjoying life. And the good thing about his commitment to his pursuits is that the journey is just as important as the end result. Which brings us back to watches.Courtesy of Longines“I’m now two years in with Longines, and I love it. I’m falling more and more in love with watches every year.”Cavill wasn’t necessarily a “watch guy” when he was young, he tells me earlier in the evening. “I appreciated a beautiful watch, but it wasn’t something I was really willing to pursue,” he explains. “I was more focused on trying to build a career first.”Now, at 43 years old, he’s established. He’s played spies and supernatural bounty hunters and even Superman—with even more exciting roles on the way. “It’s the perfect time for me to get into watch enthusiasm, especially with Longines,” he says. “They are very welcoming, and they’re always keen to share information and knowledge. So, for me, this is really the beginning. I’m now two years in with Longines, and I love it. I’m falling more and more in love with watches every year.”In a side room at Quarters, before the brisket story unfolds in front of the crowd, he tells me more about his watch journey, what it really means to be an “enthusiast,” and what’s next for him on- and off-screen. Read on for a few highlights from our conversation.This interview has been condensed and edited.Courtesy of Longines“My personal tastes tend to lean towards more of the vintage, heritage style of watch.”On His Collecting JourneyMy journey has had a couple of false starts over the years. It’s very difficult to have hobbies as an actor, because you’re always so busy and always dashing about, always moving. I’d come across a couple of watch brands over the years and always enjoyed them, but it was only really begun with Longines. I had an opportunity go where the watches are made and speak to people and really get under the hood of what watches area. Also, I’m 43 now, and now—for me personally—is the time to collect watches. Now I know what I like, what I want. I’m less guided by what the world is telling me to like or not like, or what is cool or not cool. I’m very sure that even if the world says, “This is what people love!” well, that’s fine. I don’t care about that. What I like is this.On TasteMy personal tastes tend to lean towards more of the vintage, heritage style of watch. What I love about the Master Collection is that it really is a callback to all of that, whilst using all of the wonderful complications and technology that we have today. I’ve got the Monopusher here, which is, again, a callback to the stuff that they used in the past. But it’s got a slight modern edge to it, with that lovely classic profile, which I really enjoy. It’s very, very Longines. It’s elegance, sophistication, in a beautiful, charming package.Courtesy of Longines“I’m very sure that even if the world says, “This is what people love!” well, that’s fine. I don’t care about that. What I like is this.”On the ‘Enthusiast Mindset’Once you’ve shed that cloak of embarrassment, then you can open the door to understanding. Because enthusiasts, regardless of what they’re enthusiastic about—watches, cigars, shoes, Warhammer—as soon as you get them in person and say, “I don’t really understand this. What does X mean?” you realize how welcoming these groups are. Enthusiast groups are exactly that: They’re enthusiastic about the thing. So yes, it can seem intimidating. But it’s only because we’re worried about making fools of ourselves. And as soon we stop worrying, we can get in and we can enjoy it.On Learning the Watch-World RopesI ran that risk, when Longines and I started working together. You run the risk of being the guy who’s like, “Oh, yeah, I know everything about watches. Yes, of course I’m an enthusiast, I have been for years!” And it’s not true. And then you’re going to end up falling into that trap. You’ll never get to be an enthusiast because everything you’re doing is a lie. Instead, I can say, “I’m actually beginning my journey.” And Longines go, “Okay, cool. Come on in. Check this out. Check that out.” It’s that enthusiastic love for what they do, which they impart to me.Courtesy of Longines“Once you’ve shed that cloak of embarrassment, then you can open the door to understanding.”On What’s Next I’ve just finished shooting Highlander. Release date unsure, but we’re in post, and it’s very, very exciting. Working with Chad Stahelski has been such a joy. He has such a wonderful, visionary mind. It’s not the standard; it’s always thinking outside the box. And yes, he’s very good at action, but that’s not what he’s great at. What he’s great at is the storytelling and the world-building. Wait till you see it. It’s remarkable what he’s crafted. It takes someone like that, and only someone like that, to create something like this.I’m also shooting an untitled spy-action movie with Kevin Hart right now. We’re about two- and a-bit weeks into it and having an absolute ball. Kevin is a remarkable man. Aside from being hilarious, like the character you see on screen, he’s also incredibly intelligent and hardworking. He’s nonstop. Absolutely nonstop. And Warhammer’s in development; making fantastic progress there. There are a few other things floating about, but I can’t talk about them just yet, for all sorts of reasons.