Friends Reunion Special - Photography by Terence Patrick
Cover Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow in a scene from the Friends reunion special (Photo: Courtesy of HBO Max)

The "Friends" reunion special is finally upon us, so we've put together an edit of watches that would best suit the US sitcom’s key characters

It's hard to believe that Friends ended back in 2004; most of us have dreamt of a reunion ever since. Thanks to reruns, the US sitcom has remained on a never-ending loop while we worked from home, spent weekends alone and attempted various internet trends that went viral.

Thankfully our wait is over, with The One Where They Get Back Together now streaming on HBO Max. If, like me, you spent your younger years binge-watching the lives of Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Monica (Courteney Cox), Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Joey (Matt LeBlanc), Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Ross (David Schwimmer), you can practically taste the coffee from Central Perk and, while blindfolded, locate the wall that hasn't been spackled.

But which luxury watches would these beloved characters wear? Here are the timepieces Tatler thinks would best suit the key personalities from Friends.

Rachel Green's Gucci G-Timeless Dancing Bees

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: @rachel.green.friends
Tatler Asia
Above G-Timeless Dancing Bees by Gucci (Photo: Gucci)

“It's spelled like ‘Gucky’, which can be confusing”. Rachel Green was the most stylish character from Friends thanks, in part, to the Rachel haircut, which had women everywhere flat ironing their locks within an inch of their life.

A trendsetter and painfully shallow, Rachel went from head cheerleader to fashion executive, holding positions at Bloomingdale’s, Ralph Lauren and, towards the end of season ten, Louis Vuitton. The job Rachel really wanted, however, was at Gucci but she tanked the interview when current boss Mr Zelner overheard her meeting with the Italian designer's rep.

Tatler subsequently sees Rachel sporting the new G-Timeless Dancing Bees, which is made using white gold and set with diamonds. That's not to say Rachel wouldn't swap it at a later date for another model from powerhouses Chanel or Dior. After all, as Chandler put it: "She exchanges every gift she ever gets."

See also: Friends Reunion: Rachel Green's Iconic 90s Outfits We Saw On This Season's Runways

Ross Geller's Hermès Arceau Pocket Aaaaargh!

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: @ross.dinosaur.geller
Tatler Asia
Above Arceau Pocket Aaaaargh! by Hermès (Photo: Hermès)

The average paleontologist might not be able to afford the Arceau Pocket Aaaaargh! by Hermès, but that hasn't stopped us from envisioning this timepiece peeking out of Ross Geller’s breast pocket. Maybe he’ll treat himself when he eventually wins that Nobel Prize for his ground-breaking paper on sediment flow rates.

Few men have the style and charisma to successfully pull off a pocket watch, but if there’s anything we've learned from ten years of Friends, it’s that there was nothing Ross couldn't make his own. Who else looked as good while wearing a "Frankie Says Relax" crop top, skin-tight leather trousers or a Spudnik halloween costume?

Powered by Hermès's Manufacture H1924 minute-repeater and tourbillon movement, this watch boasts an elegant white enamel dial that's protected by a detailed cover adorned with the T-Rex from an Hermès silk scarf designed by English artist Alice Shirley.

Monica Geller's Cartier Pasha de Cartier

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: @monica.gellerpk
Tatler Asia
HyperFocal: 0
Above Pasha de Cartier by Cartier (Photo: Cartier)

In the eighth season of Friends, Monica Geller openly fantasised about moving to France where she would live in a house of cheese; whether her husband Chandler could join her was neither here nor there. So it seems fitting that this high-strung perfectionist and damn good cook would have the Pasha de Cartier––a French classic––strapped to her wrist.

Monica frequently wore a pair of well-fitted jeans with a buttoned-up shirt that, for Christmas parties, she'd style with excruciatingly painful leather boots. The more eagle-eyed among us will have also noticed that the younger sister of Ross wore several wristwatches over the US sitcom's ten-year stint.

A quick scan of the show's seasons suggests Monica preferred a round case in steel or white gold, making the Pasha de Cartier a perfect choice.

See also: Game of Thrones: Which Luxury Watch Would Your Favourite Character Wear?

Chandler Bing's IWC Schaffhausen Big Pilot's Watch

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: @dreamiinng
Tatler Asia
Above Big Pilot's Watch by IWC Schaffhausen (Photo: IWC Schaffhausen)

Chandler Bing was one half of the best couple in Friends, but he also had a reputation for being a "dropper", which means he needs a hard-wearing watch that'll survive high-pitched catchphrases ("Oh. My. God!") and Thanksgiving Day football games. Enter IWC Schaffhausen, a brand whose core is rooted in a philosophy of precision and shock resistance.

Following the success of the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire, the Swiss watchmaker recently introduced a slightly smaller 41 mm Pilot's Watch. Made in stainless steel, these new watches come with either a blue or green dial, which collectors can wear with a calfskin strap or metal bracelet.

The brand's proprietary quick-change system lets you swap out the different straps without watchmaking tools, which makes sense for a man who can’t even remember where the furniture in his own living room goes.

Phoebe Buffay's Breitling Chronomat Automatic 36 South Sea

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: @fox.cove
Tatler Asia
Above Chronomat Automatic 36 South Sea by Breitling (Photo: Breitling)

One of the quirkiest characters on Friends, Phoebe Buffay was a die-hard environmentalist. A passionate vegetarian who refused to wear fur and once scolded a woman for putting her cigarette out on a tree, she's a refreshing addition to the tight-knit group.

There's no doubting that this guitar-strumming blonde would choose a watchmaker that suits her sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle, and Breitling has long collaborated with ocean conversation projects that keep Phoebe's theory that "lobsters mate for life" alive. 

Breitling's new Chronomat Automatic 36 South Sea features special lacquered dials that come in beige, midnight blue and mint green. Diamond-set hour markers and a coloured gemstone-mounted bezel give these watches a playful twist, making them perfect for a woman who doesn't care about what’s conventional.

See also: How To Pick The Perfect Watch, Based On Your Personality Type

Joey Tribbiani's Rolex Air-King Ref 14000/2140

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: @emily_cassidyy
Tatler Asia
Above Air-King Ref 14000/2140 by Rolex (Photo: Rolex)

Joey Tribbiani doesn’t share food, and there’s nothing this Italian American loved more than pizza, although he did risk his life for a meatball sub in season five, making the sandwich a close contender.

The only vintage wristwatch included in Tatler’s edit, the 1999 Air-King Ref 14000/2140 by Rolex is branded with the red-and-white logo of Domino’s pizza chain, making it the go-to watch for this Days of Our Lives soap opera star.

If that wasn’t enough, Rolex has been linked to cinema, from appearances of its watches in iconic films to fostering young filmmakers, for years. After all, Joey was always easily influenced––who else remembers why he bought Mrs Butterworth’s?

Topics