A Closer Look at the Ryan Gosling TAG Heuer Watch in The Gray Man

2022 has witnessed quite a few iconic releases from celebrated watch brands worldwide. Just to name a few, the watch industry has been graced by the brand-new All-Black Seiko Prospex Watches from the Japanese watch brand, Seiko. Meanwhile, the high-end luxury watch brand, Rolex, has also launched one of their latest GMT-Master II offerings with the Rolex Sprite. 

In this article, we will be delving into yet another remarkable 2022 watch release from TAG Heuer: the TAG Heuer Carrera Ref. WBN2111.FC6505. You might also know this timepiece as the watch Ryan Gosling sported in the Netflix film, The Gray Man (2022). This Ryan Gosling TAG Heuer watch is a classy and versatile dress piece. It exudes a cool sportiness, which is why it is so suited to the aforementioned action film. 

Let us get to know more about this Ryan Gosling TAG Heuer watch and everything it has to offer in the rest of this article. 

TAG Heuer and Ryan Gosling

In the fourth quarter of 2021, TAG Heuer announced its partnership with the Canadian actor Ryan Gosling as its new ambassador. Gosling was set to endorse a few pieces from the brand-new generation of the TAG Heuer Carrera Three Hands. 

The TAG Heuer Carrera Three Hands is a sub-collection of dress pieces from the brand’s roster of racing watches, the TAG Heuer Carrera series. A total of thirteen models were set to be released in 2022, all of which hail from four different sub-families under the TAG Heuer Carrera Three Hands lines. TAG Heuer made sure to retain these watches’ sport heritage by equipping them with impressive 100-metre depth ratings. 

The four sub-families we are looking at today are the TAG Heuer Carrera Day Date 41, TAG Heuer Twin-Time Date 41, TAG Heuer Carrera Date 29, and, finally, the TAG Heuer Carrera Date 39, which is the Ryan Gosling TAG Heuer watch. In the next section of this article, we will be delving into the TAG Heuer Carrera Date 39 and its specifications. 

Anatomy of the Ryan Gosling TAG Heuer Watch

Case

The TAG Heuer Carrera Ref. WBN2111.FC6505 is presented in a slender 39mm stainless steel case. It has a slim height of just 11.5mm and a lug distance that spans 20.5mm. Given these dimensions, this watch fits best on men with wrist sizes that range between small to average. 

The watch lugs of this timepiece are designed in a downward slope, so that they hug the curves of the wrist flawlessly. This allows for a very comfortable experience. The sleek and compact build of this Ryan Gosling TAG Heuer watch means that you can easily and unnoticeably slip this watch under the cuff of your shirt. As such, it is a great choice for those who enjoy subtler and less ostentatious timepieces. 

The case of this watch is beautifully embellished with both brushed and polished surfaces. The polished finish can be seen on the watch’s solid stainless steel bezel and lugs, giving the watch an exceptional lustre. At the same time, the case flanks are well brushed. This gives them an understated, matte surface that contrasts the bright sheen of the rest of the case. 

Caseback

On the underside of the caseback, you can find a caseback that is tightly screwed in, preventing the entry of any moisture or dust. It is crafted from stainless steel and bears the same gleaming, polished finish as the rest of the watch case. Engraved on the sides of the caseback are details on the TAG Heuer Carrera Ref. WBN2111.FC6505. This includes the watch’s country of manufacture, depth rating, the collection it hails from, and more. 

At the centre of the caseback, you can also find a sturdy layer of sapphire crystal. This gives you a clear and full view of the high-end movement that powers this sophisticated timepiece. This sapphire crystal also serves to protect the movement from any impacts or scratches.

Crown

On the right side of the TAG Heuer Carrera Ref. WBN2111.FC6505’s case, you can find a screw-down crown. Crafted entirely from stainless steel, the crown bears a delicate engraving of the TAG Heuer shield emblem, adding to the refined look of this watch. Its sides are also deeply grooved, so wearers can grip and turn the crown more easily.

Thanks to its screw-down caseback and crown, this watch has a depth rating of 100 metres. For a dress piece like the Ryan Gosling TAG Heuer watch, this is quite impressive, especially since dress watches typically come with modest 50-metre water resistance capacities. 

Dial

The dial of the TAG Heuer Carrera Ref. WBN2111.FC6505 boasts a charmingly minimalistic and elegant look. It has a well-brushed silver sunray finish, which gives the watch an incredibly simple yet refined style. 

This dial is decorated with stainless steel applique hour indices, along with sharp skeletal sword hands made of the same material. The hands and indices are all filled with Super-LumiNova, which allows you to read this dial easily even in low-light conditions. At 6 o’clock, you can also find a compact date display that is lined with stainless steel. On the slanting rim of the dial lies a straightforward black minute track with stick indices and Arabic numeral markers. 

Fitted on top of the dial is a domed sapphire crystal. It has been treated with anti-reflective coatings on both sides. This ensures that wearers have a crystal clear view of the dial from any angle, which is not distorted by any light glares or refractions. 

Strap 

The TAG Heuer Carrera Ref. WBN2111.FC6505 is paired with a supple alligator leather strap in black. It is equipped with a polished folding clasp made of stainless steel, which keeps the watch firmly fastened onto your wrist. 

On either side of the folding clasp lies a pair of push-button releases. These allow you to quickly and easily remove the watch when necessary. The clasp is also carved with TAG Heuer’s simple shield logo, which is a testament to the brand’s attention to detail.  

Movement 

The TAG Heuer Carrera Ref. WBN2111.FC6505 runs on an in-house TAG Heuer Calibre 5. It is based on one of the most popular Swiss movements in the industry: the ETA 2824-2 movement. The TAG Heuer Calibre 5 is an automatic movement that is held together by 25 jewels and beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour. It possesses a standard power supply of 38 hours.

Price

The TAG Heuer Carrera Ref. WBN2111.FC6505 has a price tag of $2,750 USD. This makes it a great entry-level dress piece choice for those seeking their first-ever TAG Heuer watch. 

Ryan Gosling TAG Heuer Watch: All-Stainless Steel

Apart from the TAG Heuer Carrera Ref. WBN2111.FC6505, Ryan Gosling also used an all-stainless steel variant of this watch in The Gray Man (2022): the TAG Heuer Carrera Ref. WBN2111.BA0639. You can see Gosling wearing this sleek timepiece while clothed in formal attire, making for a very harmonious combination. 

TAG Heuer Carrera Ref. WBN2111.BA0639

The TAG Heuer Carrera Ref. WBN2111.BA0639 is encased in a 39mm stainless steel case paired with a matching three-link bracelet made of the same material. It has a very similar design as the Ryan Gosling TAG Heuer watch, showing off a brushed silver sunray dial and a slim 11.5mm build. 

Protected by a layer of sapphire crystal, the dial contains applique hour indices, luminous sword hands, and a date aperture at 6 o’clock. On the right side of the watch, you will find a polished steel screw-down crown which gives the timepiece its 100-metre depth rating. 

Powering this watch is the in-house TAG Heuer Calibre 5. It has a beat frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz) and a modest 38-hour power supply. If you want a uniformly-silver timepiece, this is the perfect watch option for you. 

The all-stainless steel TAG Heuer Carrera Ref. WBN2111.BA0639 is only slightly more expensive than the Ryan Gosling TAG Heuer watch. It can be purchased for $2,850 USD. 

Alternatives to the Ryan Gosling TAG Heuer Watch

1. Hamilton Jazzmaster Ref. H32505751

If you are looking for something a little more affordable than the Ryan Gosling TAG Heuer watch, then take a look at this piece from Hamilton. The Hamilton Jazzmaster Ref. H32505751 sports a classic combination of a round 40mm stainless steel case and a supple black leather strap. 

This watch’s silver sunray dial is ornamented with sharp, slim hour indices and steel dauphine hands. All of these components are coated with lume, allowing for optimal legibility at all times. A small date complication can also be found at 6 o’clock, while an arcing day-of-the-week display lies at 12 o’clock. 

This Hamilton Jazzmaster watch is driven by an in-house Hamilton Caliber H-40. Fitted by 25 jewels, this is an automatic movement that beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). It also delivers an outstanding power reserve that lasts for up to 80 hours. 

You can get the Hamilton Jazzmaster Ref. H32505751 for just $795 USD.

2. Grand Seiko 9S Mechanical Ref. SBGR287

If you have a slightly bigger budget and want to invest in a classy dress watch from an esteemed Japanese watchmaker, then consider the Grand Seiko 9S Mechanical Ref. SBGR287. This Grand Seiko watch utilizes a 37mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 13.3mm. 

Instead of silver, the dial of this Grand Seiko watch comes in a clean white finish. It is furnished with silver-tone applique indices and sharp dauphine hands, along with a date window outlined in steel at 3 o’clock. This dial is also accented by a sweeping, blued steel seconds hand, which sets up a striking contrast against the softer white backdrop.

This Grand Seiko 9S Mechanical watch is driven by an in-house Grand Seiko Caliber 9S65. It is a self-winding movement that is held together by 37 jewels and beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). This movement also possesses a stellar 72-hour power supply and a top-notch precision rate of -3/+5 seconds per day.

If the Grand Seiko 9S Mechanical Ref. SBGR287 has caught your interest, you can get this white dial watch for approximately $4,700 USD.

Final Thoughts

If you want an entry-level TAG Heuer Carrera piece that will not break the bank, the Ryan Gosling TAG Heuer watch certainly is a great collection. The fact that it has been worn by such a globally-admired actor is just a bonus. Offering the perfect blend of sportiness and elegance, the Ryan Gosling TAG Heuer watch is an excellent pick for every watch collector out there.

Photo credits: TAG Heuer and Netflix.

Aiming for that cool and charismatic look? Pair your attire with any of these Red Dial Watches.