Johnny Hallyday’s Watches

If Johnny Hallyday splurged heavily on cars and motorbikes, he did the same in the world of watchmaking, wearing some beautiful watches.

While most of his watches are far from affordable for every budget, he did nonetheless wear one very accessible model, which I present at the end of the article.
Otherwise, fans can fall back on the famous Johnny Hallyday necklace.

A quick overview of the Boss’s timepieces …

Cartier

1963: Johnny Hallyday poses with Sylvie Vartan at the wheel of a Ferrari that he would end up folding in front of the Olympia not long after (read Johnny Hallyday’s cars).

On his wrist, a very classic Cartier Tank. This line was developed by Louis Cartier in 1917, inspired by the design of the Renault FT armoured tanks.

A classic, safe choice.

Rolex

In the 1980s, Johnny Hallyday gave in to the temptation of Rolex with a two-tone gold-and-steel Oyster Perpetual Datejust.

It wouldn’t be his only model. He would follow up with a gold Day-Date and a superb steel Daytona (ref. 116520) in the 1990s.

Back then, case diameters were still reasonable. Things would get worse over time …

Panerai

Around the 2000s, Johnny wore a Panerai Luminor Marina. A military dive watch with a 44mm case water-resistant to 300 metres and a handsome 3-day power reserve.

Chanel

Then married to Laeticia Hallyday, the couple were seen wearing a Chanel J12 in ceramic.

Created in 2000, this watch was a major success.

A clock on the wrist

A case measuring 51mm in diameter! The trend for oversized watches defined the years 2005–2010.

The very (too) large Mangusta Supermeccanica by Chronographe Suisse, worn by Johnny, had its moment in the spotlight before fading into oblivion.

Breitling

Breitling, yes—but not just any Breitling: Johnny opted for the first version of the Emergency, a hefty 50mm watch.

This watch—brace yourself—houses a beacon that allows you to be located from more than 150km away in an emergency.

Harry Winston

In 2006, the Boss was spotted wearing a Harry Winston Z6 in Zallium, a brand-new alloy.

Equipped with a minute repeater, the watch also features an alarm. The 44mm case is water-resistant to 100 metres.

Only 350 pieces were produced.

Audemars Piguet

At Audemars Piguet, Johnny chose a legendary model: the Royal Oak (ref. 15400).

Back to a sensible size, with a 41mm case diameter.

This watch stayed on his wrist for a long time before ending up on Laeticia Hallyday’s, who now wears it.

His simplest and most accessible watch

In the final years of his life, Johnny Hallyday would sometimes wear a simple watch.

It was a rugged Victorinox I.N.O.X watch, for under 500 euros.

The 43mm stainless-steel case houses a quartz movement.

This model, water-resistant to 200 metres, is sold with a rubber strap—the one Johnny wears—and a knotted survival (paracord) strap which, once unknotted, provides a nylon cord capable of supporting 250 kilos to help you get out of difficult situations.

In short, Johnny Hallyday had a watch career as rich and varied as his musical career.

The Johnny Hallyday “Jamais Seul” Tribute Watch

If time has stopped for Johnny Hallyday, he continues to live on in the hearts of his fans, who will find in the Jamais Seul watch a well-made timepiece. Often, celebrity merchandising is of poor quality, but it has to be said: this watch is a genuine horological product.

Designed and produced by the Belgian watchmaking house Col&MacArthur, which specialises in commemorative watches (notably the “Lunar” collection with its fragment of lunar material on the dial), it’s a handsome, well-thought-out piece—far removed from the clichéd “Truck+Wolf+Harley” combo …

Case and dial

The watch is packed with symbolic nods to the singer: a dial that echoes the mesh of a microphone grille; a blue seconds hand matching the colour of his eyes; a case beautifully engraved with the feathers of the American bald eagle; a crown that recalls a Harley-Davidson wheel rim; a transparent caseback bearing Johnny’s signature; and, above all, a piece of a jacket worn by Johnny Hallyday, encapsulated at 9 o’clock in the case and visible beneath a sapphire crystal.

Movement

Available with Swiss quartz, it is also offered in an automatic version with a Swiss movement as well: the Sellita SW200-1.

This official Johnny Hallyday Jamais Seul watch is a real success as a commemorative timepiece. Fans will recognise meaningful symbols, interpreted in a relevant way on a proper watchmaking creation.

If any fans are reading this article, you can order it by clicking the button below—and if you add the promo code THE LEGEND, you’ll receive a free collector’s box 😉