In a moment that seamlessly blended cinematic royalty with horological grandeur, Shah Rukh Khan—Asia’s richest movie star and one of the most globally beloved actors—arrived at the 2025 Met Gala wearing a watch that left even the most seasoned collectors speechless: the Patek Philippe Grand Complication Ref. 5304/301R, a near-mythical timepiece that’s currently estimated to be valued at $3 million on the secondary market.
While the watch itself is already rare and highly coveted, what elevated this moment into the realm of legend was the fact that Jay-Z—hip-hop’s ultimate tastemaker—had sported the same reference earlier this year at the 67th Grammy Awards. When two cultural icons from opposite ends of the globe arrive at the world’s most exclusive events wearing the same ultra-complicated Patek, you know it’s not just about fashion—it’s about stature.
The Watch: A grand complication like no other
The Ref. 5304/301R sits at the top of Patek Philippe’s vaunted Grand Complications line. Housed in a 43mm 18k rose gold case, it’s adorned with 80 baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel, lugs, and clasp. However, the true magic lies beneath the sapphire-crystal dial.
This timepiece showcases a skeletonized layout that reveals the inner workings of its minute repeater and retrograde perpetual calendar—two of the most difficult and revered complications in haute horlogerie. With the push of a slider, the watch chimes the hours, quarters, and minutes, while the perpetual calendar accurately tracks the date, day, month, leap year, and moon phase—all without needing adjustment until the year 2100.
The retrograde date mechanism is particularly captivating: a single hand sweeps across the arc of the dial and jumps back to the beginning at the end of each month. Combined with ornate white gold engraving and an alligator strap, the 5304/301R is both technically brilliant and visually hypnotic—a watch that bridges art and engineering.
Shah Rukh Khan: A billion-dollar brand on his own
That such a timepiece would grace the wrist of Shah Rukh Khan is fitting. Often referred to as the “King of Bollywood,” Khan has starred in over 90 films and boasts a fanbase that spans continents. According to recent estimates, he is the 4th richest actor in the world, with a net worth exceeding $770 million, placing him ahead of Tom Cruise and even Jackie Chan.
But Khan’s empire extends beyond cinema. He owns a majority stake in the hugely popular Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders. His presence at the Met Gala, a traditionally Western-dominated event, symbolized more than style—it was a declaration of Indian cultural power on the global stage.
Star watches at the Met Gala 2025
Khan wasn’t the only A-lister flashing serious wristwear at the fashion world’s biggest night. Pharrell Williams, never one to shy away from avant-garde aesthetics, wore the Richard Mille RM 74-02, a striking carbon and gold timepiece with an automatic tourbillon and skeletonized dial. Meanwhile, Timothée Chalamet turned heads with a Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600, a piece so rare it has never been publicly sold. Zendaya, for her part, opted for a more understated but no less powerful Cartier Privé Tank Asymétrique in platinum, proving that elegance can be just as commanding as complexity.
Still, it was Shah Rukh Khan who made the boldest statement. By choosing one of Patek Philippe’s most ornate and mechanically demanding watches, he aligned himself not just with film royalty, but with the most elite circle of global cultural icons.
