Watch Collaborations: When Time Meets Culture

In the world of high-end watches, collaborations allow brands to break out of their traditional molds and engage with broader cultural narratives. Whether it’s a tribute to beloved fictional characters, a celebration of historic milestones, or a partnership with Hollywood royalty, these joint efforts add new dimensions to watch design and storytelling. Each partnership brings a fresh perspective to an age-old craft. Here are some of our favorite watch collaborations from Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Omega, IWC, and TAG Heuer.

 

Omega and the NASA Snoopy Silver Award

Few watch collaborations are as storied as Omega’s connection to NASA. Following the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, Omega received the Silver Snoopy Award, a NASA honor given to individuals or companies who contribute to crewed spaceflight safety and mission success. The award inspired a series of commemorative Speedmaster watches celebrating that achievement. 
 

The first, the Speedmaster Professional “Snoopy Award” (Ref. 3578.51.00) from 2003, featured a small Snoopy motif on the subdial. The “Silver Snoopy Award 45th Anniversary” (Ref. 311.32.42.30.04.003) arrived in 2015 with a white dial, comic-strip detailing, and a silver Snoopy medallion on the caseback. The most recent “Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary” (Ref. 310.32.42.50.02.001), released in 2020, added a dynamic animation of Snoopy orbiting the moon. Together, these collectible models honor Omega’s vital role in one of NASA’s most heroic space missions.

 

TAG Heuer x Mario Cart

In 2022, TAG Heuer teamed up with Nintendo to launch a limited-edition Formula 1 × Mario Kart collaboration, combining TAG Heuer’s motorsport legacy with the playful, speed-driven universe of Mario Kart. One of the two watches was the limited-edition TAG Heuer Formula 1 x Mario Kart Chronograph (Ref. CAZ201E.FC6517), which features a 44 mm stainless-steel case, a black ceramic tachymeter bezel with the Mario Kart logo in Super-LumiNova, red-lacquer accents, and a checkered-pattern dial that nods to the racetrack.

 

Powered by the Caliber 16 automatic movement, the chronograph displays Mario racing at 9 o’clock and hides playful “easter eggs” in the date window, where familiar items like the banana or Bullet Bill sometimes appear. Limited to 3,000 pieces, this vibrant watch collaboration captures both nostalgia and performance while delivering Swiss precision with a sense of humor and pop-culture charm.

 

IWC × Antoine de Saint-Exupéry & The Little Prince

For over a decade, IWC has partnered with the estate of French aviator and author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, creator of The Little Prince, to produce watches that honor his adventurous spirit and literary legacy. The first collaboration was the limited-edition IWC Pilot’s Chronograph “Saint-Exupéry” (IW371709), launching IWC’s dedication to the cause.

 

Since then, the watchmaker has released models like the Big Pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Ref. IW500421 in red gold, limited to 500 pieces with a 46 mm case, tobacco-brown dial (a signature of IWC × Saint-Exupéry editions), and the aviator’s portrait etched on the caseback. There’s also the Big Pilot Le Petit Prince Ref. IW500909, paired with a midnight-blue dial (a hallmark of IWC × Le Petit Prince watches) and an engraving of the Little Prince on the rear. These editions incorporate Saint-Exupéry’s signature, symbolic references to flight, and charitable support for the Fondation Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, serving as heartfelt tributes to a literary icon.

 

Audemars Piguet x Arnold Schwarzenegger

Audemars Piguet’s collaboration with Arnold Schwarzenegger began in 1999 with the Royal Oak Offshore “End of Days” Ref. 25770SN, setting a new standard for celebrity-limited editions at AP. Over time, this partnership evolved into nearly a dozen variations, each more audacious than the next. Among the most notable is the Royal Oak Offshore “The Legacy” Ref. 26378IO.OO.A001KE.01, introduced in 2011 as a limited edition of 1,500 pieces.

 

The watch features a oversized 48 mm black ceramic case with titanium pushpiece guards, a matching ceramic bezel, and pink-gold accents that highlight the signature “Méga Tapisserie” dial. The caseback bears the engraving “Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy Limited Edition and it’s powered by the automatic Caliber 2326/2840 chronograph movement. With its large scale, striking materials, and limited issuance, it remains a prime example of how celebrity-driven watch collaborations can result in memorable and collectible timepieces.

 

Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co.

The partnership between Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. dates back to 1851, when Antoine Norbert de Patek traveled to New York and struck an agreement with Charles Lewis Tiffany to retail Patek watches in the United States. This relationship, one of the longest-running in watchmaking, helped establish Patek Philippe’s presence in the American market and continues today. Tiffany-signed Patek Philippe dials — characterized by the jeweler’s name printed beneath the brand logo — are among the most sought-after double-signed watches in existence. Tiffany-stamped Patek Philippe watches can be found across collections, from simple time-only models and sporty designs to highly complicated or elaborately decorated pieces.

The collaboration also produced the famous 2021 Nautilus Ref. 5711/1A-018 with its Tiffany Blue dial, created to celebrate 170 years of partnership. Limited to 170 pieces and available exclusively through Tiffany & Co. boutiques, the watch became an instant collectible, underscoring the enduring strength of the relationship between these two storied houses.

 

Watch Collaboration Models at Gray & Sons

Limited editions born from watch collaborations often become some of the most collectible pieces on the secondary market. Their scarcity, combined with unique design details and cross-industry storytelling, ensures enduring appeal long after production ends. At Gray & Sons, our curated selection of pre-owned watches frequently includes examples from these landmark partnerships — whether it’s an Omega Snoopy Speedmaster, a Patek Philippe Tiffany-signed dial, an IWC Le Petit Prince Pilot’s Watch or another collaborative effort from a luxury watch brand.
 

Each piece is carefully authenticated, serviced, and restored by our in-house team of Swiss-trained watchmakers to ensure it performs as beautifully as it looks. For collectors, owning a pre-owned collaboration watch offers the chance to experience not only the craftsmanship of renowned maisons but also the creative and cultural stories that make these models so significant. Explore our evolving inventory at Gray & Sons to discover these and other celebrated watch collaborations.