Since the announcement of the remake ofAmerican Psycho by Luca Guadagnino, the internet is burning to know who will play Patrick Bateman. We now know that it is Austin Butler who plays the bloody role, and not Jacob Elordi, as we have heard here and there.
And it turns out that the hero and his future interpreter have one thing in common: their passion for watches. At the San Francisco International Film Festival, we could see the actor with a Breitling Chronomat Automatic 40. If wearing a versatile sports watch with a black tie is enough to offend the purists, we can see it as an interesting approach.
The Chronomat synthesizes all of Breitling’s inspirations, linking its aeronautical roots to its terrestrial and maritime worlds. It has a dual time zone and its 24-hour scale lets you know whether it’s day or night, a nod to the brand’s first loves. Waterproof up to 200 meters, it is ideal for facing all challenges, on land or at sea. We have seen other models on Austin’s wrist in the past; there is no doubt that he has a soft spot for Breitling.
Last August, he wore the discreet Chronomat B01 42, for a reserved look, far from more popular and flashy models such as the Navitimer and Superocean diving watches. It’s no surprise that the pilot opted for this sober piece, which goes perfectly with his retro suits. If the Chronomat is of rare versatility, it avoids shouting it from the rooftops.
© Breitling // Montage GQ
But is it the ideal watch for a Wall Street psychopath? Not sure. In the 2000 film, Christian Bale’s Patrick Bateman sported a two-tone Seiko SNXJ90 (as close to a two-tone Datejust as possible; Rolex wasn’t too keen on the idea of a bloodthirsty killer wearing one of his on-screen models). And a stainless steel sports watch with a black dial doesn’t have the sparkle you associate with the escapades of Manhattan’s upscale neighborhoods.
In addition to the Breitling Sport models, Austin Butler also set his sights on superb Cartier Tanks. If these sexy watches are a hit in purist circles, it’s not certain that their delicate sophistication is suited to the ferocity of the bling-bling environments of the 1980s.
For Austin Butler to give his face to a larger-than-life Patrick Bateman, we’re betting on a two-tone DJ, a gold Submariner or perhaps a Vacheron Constantin Patrimony. Under the cover, of course, that the brands in question agree to be associated with the madness of our beloved bloodthirsty hero…
No release date having been announced, we will have to wait a little before seeing Austin Butler in the shoes of Patrick Bateman. But given that Luca Guadagnino is used to working with the best when it comes to costuming (he worked with Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson for Queer), we don’t worry too much.
Originally published on British GQ
