HBO Max’s The White Lotus is a bizarrely entertaining drama-thriller that was shot at Four Seasons resorts in Maui, Sicily, and Koh Samui.
Considering that the typical Four Seasons guest represents one of the primary target demographics for timepiece brands — just like a niche watch website that targets sophisticated watch-conscious consumers — The White Lotus is a perfect medium to promote wristwatches.
The showrunners made some unusual watch choices, particularly in Season 1, leading us to suspect product placement — not strictly wardrobe design and storyline — played at least some part in watch selection. Nevertheless, enough of the watch prop decisions were thoughtful and showed good taste that we were compelled to select our five favorite timepieces from Seasons 1 through 3.
Our Favorite Watches From “The White Lotus”
1. MoonSwatch Mission to Saturn
Sam Nivola wears a MoonSwatch Mission to Saturn in The White Lotus Season 3. This is an excellent choice for Nivola, who plays Lochlan Ratliff, the youngest son in a wealthy US family that has traveled to Thailand for vacation. Nivola’s character is in high school, and a highly accessible MoonSwatch makes tons of sense. At 42 mm x 13.25 mm, it looks great on his wrist, and the decision to replace the cheap factory strap with a nicer-looking, brown-colored, striped NATO-style strap was spot on. $270
2. Rolex Milgauss
Patrick Schwarzenegger’s character, Lochlan’s older brother, is a finance-bro who works for his father’s company and wears a 40 mm diameter Rolex Milgauss (presumably Ref. 116400GV-0001). Unlike most stars on the show, Schwarzenegger’s character, Saxon Ratcliff, rotates between two watches (also a Hublot Big Bang Unico Black Magic) in season 3 of The White Lotus. The extra attention to wristwatches might be a nod to his real-life father, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is famously seen wearing watches in his movies. The Milgauss is a classic design, though it’s not one of Rolex’s most popular professional watches, such as a Daytona, GMT-Master II, or Submariner. As of 2023, no Milgauss watches are currently in production; however, we have reason to believe that Rolex might bring it back as soon as 2026. In the meantime, the only option to acquire a Milgauss is second-hand, unless you can find a new old stock version. $8,500+
3. Field Watch
We were unable to conclusively identify the make and model of the wristwatch worn by Tayme Thapthimthong, who played a significant co-starring role as a security guard at Four Seasons Koh Samui. Gaitok’s watch features a ubiquitous field watch design that, when worn on an olive-colored NATO-style strap, pairs flawlessly with his guard beige military-esque uniform. Best of all, if you want to recreate a similar look, there are endless options, from inexpensive microbrands to Seiko and Hamilton field watches, up to pricier Tudors and IWCs. $300+
4. Jacob & Co Astronomia Fleurs de Jardin
Representing the most unique and expensive timepiece on The White Lotus, to date, is the Jacob & Co. Astronomia Fleurs de Jardin (French for Garden Flowers). Worn by Patravadi Mejudhon in season 3, who is portrayed as The White Lotus Koh Samui resort owner, Sritala Hollinger. This watch is ostentatious yet blends well with both Mejudhon’s wardrobe and the island scenery. A great statement piece by the producers that says “we love wristwatches,” even if it’s a timepiece that only the wealthiest 1% of buyers can realistically afford. $380,000
5. Rolex Submariner “Smurf”
Lastly, there’s Theo James, who in season 2 of The White Lotus, portrays a wealthy finance-bro-entrepreneur, Cameron Sullivan, traveling on a couples vacation with his wife, his college roommate, and his wife. He wears the masculine, all-encompassing Rolex Submariner. Not an ordinary Submariner — it’s made of hefty and expensive 18K white gold. The 40 mm diameter Rolex Submariner (Ref. 116619LB) features an attention-grabbing blue dial with a matching blue ceramic bezel insert, aptly nicknamed the “Smurf” after the cartoon. The Submariner “Smurf” (2008-2020) is discontinued, which means you have to source one second-hand. Alternatively, in Rolex’s current catalog, the Submariner (Ref. 126619LB), which features a slightly larger 41 mm diameter 18K white gold case, a blue bezel insert, and a black dial, effectively replaces the Smurf. $34,000+
Final Thoughts
Whether you like accessibly priced, mid-tier, or top-of-the-line watches, The White Lotus series has something for everyone. We’re looking forward to The White Lotus Season 4 — which is expected to start filming in 2026 — and to what watches will be on the cast members’ wrists.
Photos/Screenshots by HBO Max.
