Alex Cross is crime thriller series (books, films, and television series) created by James Patterson, featuring a Washington, D.C. based detective and forensic psychologist who investigates serial killers.

Cross is the newest iteration of the Alex Cross crime thriller fiction series (2024- ), produced by Amazon MGM Studios, Paramount Television Studios, Skydance Television, and Blue Monday Productions. The television series, currently in Season 2, has been a huge hit on Prime Video, and has already been renewed for Season 3.

In Cross, actor Aldis Hodge plays the character Alex Cross, and wears a very specific timepiece throughout Seasons 1 and 2: an Urban Jürgensen Reference 2.

The Urban Jürgensen Reference 2, is a limited edition vintage timepiece that began production in 1986, and features a perpetual calendar (including the day, month, date, and moonphases), along with hours, minutes, and small seconds. The watch uses an ultra-thin Frédéric Piguet Caliber 71 with an off-center rotor, and a perpetual calendar module made by Lemania. (The Frédéric Piguet factory became Blancpain, and Lemania became Breguet, both in the Vallee de Joux, near each other, and owned by the Swatch Group.)

In addition to Roman numerals, and an open-tipped hour hand, the dial features multiple hand guilloche-work patterns.

The Reference 2 was reportedly limited to a total of 50 pieces of the Ref. 2 were produced in platinum and 122 in gold (although some reports suggest 175 total were made).

Final Thoughts

Aldis Hodge is well known in the watch world, and is a serious watch collector, evidenced by wearing such a low-key, yet highly respected vintage timepiece. Not to mention, the choice of a conservatively 38 mm timepiece, that clearly fits his write well, is a nod to good taste.

 

Photo Keri Anderson/Prime/MGM Studios.