Which watches does Édouard Philippe wear?

In our “Who Wears What?” column, we’ve already dissected the wrists of Sébastien Lecornu, Emmanuel Macron, Sarah Knafo, Jordan Bardella, Éric Zemmour and many others besides. It was time to tackle another French political figure: Édouard Philippe, former Prime Minister and Mayor of Le Havre.

His wardrobe is reassuringly classic, but his watches tell an interesting story: first an accessible French piece, the Lip Himalaya, then a move into the very closed circle of Bell & Ross editions made for the Prime Minister’s Security Group (GSPM), before remaining faithful to the iconic BR 03 square case in an even stealthier black version.

Less headline-grabbing than the controversies around his presidential ambitions, his wrist nonetheless says something very clear: real consistency between role, image and timepiece. Let’s get into it.

Édouard Philippe, the anti-bling politician who likes tool watches

Unlike certain political leaders who get spotted thanks to an overly showy tourbillon or a rose-gold bezel that shines brighter than their platform, Édouard Philippe sticks to a restrained line: legible, robust watches, more “tool” than “jewellery” in spirit. No diamonds, no pointless complications. Just the time, sometimes the date, and a solid impression of seriousness.

We can distinguish three major stages in his public watch story:

• a Lip phase with the 40 mm Himalaya at the start of his national career;
• a Bell & Ross “GSPM” phase, with a steel BR 03 produced in a 50-piece run for the Prime Minister’s Security Group;
• a matte-black Bell & Ross phase, still based on the BR 03, which we still see on his wrist today—very likely a special version bearing the insignia of that same security unit.

Only three watches seen, but one common thread: serious tools, military at heart, and a certain taste for brands that speak to law enforcement and professionals.

Lip Himalaya 40 mm: understated, solid French beginnings

An emblematic model of French watchmaking

Before the militarised, aeronautical square of Bell & Ross, Édouard Philippe was long photographed wearing a Lip Himalaya 40 Classique ref. 671547. A French watch, made in Besançon—perfectly aligned with the image of an elected official who presents himself as attached to the regions and to a certain idea of national industry.

The Himalaya collection isn’t just any Lip: it dates back to the 1950s and takes its name from the alpine feats of Lionel Terray and Maurice Herzog, the man of Annapurna. At the time, the watch was marketed as “chosen by nine out of ten mountaineers” for its resistance to shocks and the elements. It even accompanied stages of the Tour de France.

Specifications of Édouard Philippe’s Lip Himalaya 40

• Diameter: 40 mm (silver round dial)
• Case: stainless steel, chrome finish
• Movement: analogue quartz (a Ronda), central seconds and date at 3 o’clock
• Water resistance: 5 bar (50 m) – more than enough to handle a downpour in Le Havre or a spilled coffee at Matignon
• Crystal: mineral
• Strap: brown leather, classic pin buckle
• Retail price: €199.

A simple, legible, unpretentious watch that tells the story of a man who was still “normal”, back when those around him hadn’t yet thought to outfit him with a limited edition stamped “Prime Minister’s Security Group”.

Bell & Ross BR 03-92 GSPM: the Prime Minister’s Security Group watch

When Bell & Ross equips the State’s security services

When he moved into Matignon in 2017, Édouard Philippe changed category… and watch. Bell & Ross, the Franco-Swiss brand specialising in instrument watches inspired by aircraft cockpits, has partnered with several close-protection units of the French State: the GSPR (President), the GSPM (Prime Minister) and the GSMA (Defence Ministers).

For these services, the brand produced very limited runs based on the BR 03-92, with each unit’s logo at 6 o’clock. In the case of the GSPM, the watch is a steel BR 03 “Black Steel Sécurité 1er Ministre”, produced in just 50 pieces.

We know, from photos and resale listings, that this model bears the BR 03-92 designation on the dial, a 42 mm steel case and, above all, the Prime Minister’s Security Group crest in a medallion at 6 o’clock, in place of a simple index.

Specifications of the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 “Sécurité 1er Ministre”

The technical base is very close to the standard BR 03-92 Black Steel:

• Case: 41 mm, polished/satin-brushed stainless steel, Bell & Ross’s iconic square shape
• Movement: BR-CAL.302 automatic calibre, approx. 54 hours of power reserve
• Dial: black, large Arabic numerals at 12-3-6-9, baton indices, hands and indices coated with Super-LumiNova for maximum legibility day and night
• Crystal: sapphire with anti-reflective coating
• Water resistance: 100 m
• Strap: black rubber and ultra-resistant synthetic fabric, steel pin buckle
• Limited edition: 50 pieces intended for GSPM members, sometimes later resold on the pre-owned market with box, papers and explicit mention of the special edition.

This is a pure tool watch: legible, extremely robust, designed for men who spend their time running around a Prime Minister—not for taking selfies with a gold-plated wrist.

Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Black Matte: continuity in stealth mode

A BR 03 as black as an official convoy at night

Since leaving Matignon, Édouard Philippe has regularly been photographed wearing a black Bell & Ross BR 03, with case and dial in matching tones. Everything suggests it is a BR 03-92 Black Matte BR03A-BL-CE/SRB, one of the brand’s emblematic models in matte black ceramic.

The images hint at the same type of dial as the steel GSPM, with the logo at 6 o’clock—suggesting another special run intended for the same group, but in an all-black version. Bell & Ross has indeed produced BR 03-92 variants in matte ceramic for different elite units, on the same technical base.

Specifications of the BR 03 Black Matte

• Case: 41 mm, microblasted black ceramic, square shape, mid-case and lugs fully treated in black
• Movement: BR-CAL.302 automatic, approx. 54 hours of power reserve
• Dial: deep black, Arabic numerals at 12-3-6-9 and indices coated with white Super-LumiNova, highly contrasted baton hands
• Crystal: sapphire with anti-reflective coating
• Water resistance: 100 m
• Strap: black rubber and synthetic fabric, black PVD pin buckle
• New price (standard version): €4,300

A trio of watches perfectly aligned with the man

From Lip Himalaya to Bell & Ross: a logical progression

If you look at this trio as a mini-collection, a very coherent thread emerges:

• French roots: Lip first, then Bell & Ross, which remains a house founded in Paris before being assembled in Switzerland. Far from the deluges of yellow-gold Rolexes or platinum Pateks.
• Tool watches: the Himalaya was born on summits; the BR 03 was born in cockpits and adopted by special forces. No pointless complications, no gem-set bezel.
• “Politically defensible” prices: a Lip under €200, then Bell & Ross pieces around €3,500–€4,000. Beautiful objects, yes—but nowhere near the budget of a major tax reform.
• Symbolism of the role: the GSPM limited edition quite literally embodies his time at Matignon: the wrist becomes a discreet badge, intended for those who know.

Legible watches for a man who wants to remain “clear”

You can also read this wrist as a metaphor for his political positioning: ultra-legible dials, straight typography, zero whimsy. Even his watch refuses ambiguity: unlike certain campaign speeches, the time—at least—is always perfectly clear.

In the end, Édouard Philippe’s watches say more about him than many interviews: an attachment to seriousness, a taste for professional tools, loyalty to a few brands rather than compulsive dispersion (that said, he must have received them free of charge). A small collection, but one with more coherence than many legislative programmes.

FAQ: everything you need to know about Édouard Philippe’s watches

What watches does Édouard Philippe wear?

Three models have been clearly identified:

• Lip Himalaya 40 Classique ref. 671547 (quartz, 40 mm, made in France).
• Bell & Ross BR 03-92 “Sécurité 1er Ministre” GSPM, a 50-piece limited edition in steel with the Prime Minister’s Security Group logo at 6 o’clock.
• Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Black Matte (very likely a special edition linked to the GSPM, based on the black-ceramic BR 03-92).

Is Édouard Philippe’s Lip Himalaya a luxury watch?

No. It’s an accessible French watch, around €190 new. Steel case, quartz movement, made in Besançon. Above all, it has a great story and a very successful design for the price.

How much does the Prime Minister’s Bell & Ross BR 03-92 GSPM cost?

The GSPM version is not sold to the public. On the pre-owned market, the rare examples that change hands privately or through specialist dealers generally sit between €3,500 and €4,000 depending on condition and completeness (box, papers, GSPM card, etc.).

Is his BR 03-92 Black Matte the same watch as the GSPM one?

Technically, it’s built on the same architecture (BR 03-92, 42 mm, automatic movement, 100 m water resistance). The difference lies in the case material (matte black ceramic) and the dial. The photos strongly suggest it’s a GSPM variant, but Bell & Ross does not publicly communicate about these highly confidential editions.

Does he own other watches?

Probably, like any reasonable enthusiast. But only these three have been clearly identified through public photos and cross-checking with the brands’ catalogues. The rest is Édouard Philippe’s private life… and our job here is to analyse the wrist, not rummage through the bedside table.