Russell Crowe wears the Model 01
Big screen actor Russell Crowe – perhaps best known for his Oscar-winning performance as Maximus Decimus Meridius in Ridley Scott's Gladiator – has been wearing the Model 01.
A discerning collector
We first met Russell in 2024. It didn't take long to appreciate that he's a genuine watch person - he's most often seen wearing Patek Philippe and independent brands like H.Moser & Cie., which tells you something about the level of discernment you're dealing with.
During this first, albeit brief, meeting we spoke about our plans to bring the MONCEAU name back to watchmaking.
So when his birthday came around on 7 April of this year, by which point we had successfully completed our first production run of the Model 01, gifting him one of these first watches felt like the natural thing to do.
What we didn't plan for was what came next.
"This is a really, really good watch"
Rather than a quiet acknowledgement, Russell took to his TikTok channel to film an unboxing video – unprompted, unscripted, on camera.
He spoke about the dial design, the exhibition caseback, the finish of the case and bracelet. At one point, he looked down at the watch and said simply: "This is a really, really good watch." From someone who wears Patek and high-end independent brands, a reaction like that carries weight.
In a follow-up comment, Russell added: "It's a very nice watch. The bracelet and the strap, so easy to interchange. The weight, balance, feel... all superior."
Weight, balance, feel. Three words that go straight to what we spent years trying to get right. The Model 01 was engineered to sit as close to the wrist as possible – slim, compact, unobtrusive – and the pursuit of that comfort was long and uncompromising.
To have a collector of Russell's calibre recognise it, without any prompting, is a kind of validation that doesn't come along often.
What's more, Russell subsequently placed an order for two Model 01s. And while we appreciate Russell's kind words, his actions speak even louder.