The Cartier Petit Santos is the Latest Entry Into Paul Mescal's Incredible Shrinking Wardrobe
Of all the style topics that have been discussed at Esquire as of late – including our fuzzy cover star's iconic capsule wardrobe – Paul Mescal’s shrinking fits have been at the top of the list.
Throughout the Gladiator II press tour, which has seen him sit on Graham Norton’s red sofa as well as traipse around Sydney for TikTok, the 28-year-old Irish heartthrob has been a fan of an itsy-bitsy button-downs; a cardigan/top that stops at the navel and accentuates his Michelangelo-sculpted biceps. And readers: who can blame him.
But after the London premiere of the film last night, my interest has zeroed in on the tiny horological accompaniment on his wrist. Against the backdrop of a Gucci tux, where the collar was left louchely undone, Mescal had a 1963 Cartier Petit Santos watch poking from underneath his sleeve.
This timepiece has been plucked from the French maison’s archive, a collection which Mescal has dipped into plenty of times before. Previously, he’s donned a 1977 18 karat fold Cartier Gondole. And it seems the rarer pieces have inspired his personal tastes, having worn a vintage square Cartier Incurvee from his own collection on the red carpet.
This particular style has caught my eye for the very reason that it’s not meant to: it's almost too small to spot. In fact, its custom black strap is more striking than the yellow-gold bezel and crown. While Mescal is no stranger to the small watch trend that other celebs like Timothée Chalamet and Bad Bunny have also been pioneering, this piece is notably miniaturised, even more so than the Tank Louis and Cartier de Baignoire he’s previously worn.
Cartier has also copped the constantly growing demand for smaller watches – one that’s gone from A-listers’ wrists to those of regular watch-wearers – announcing the release of the Tank LC Mini, measuring 24mm x 16.5mm, at this year’s Watches and Wonders.
So what’s the benefit of dialling down the dial? Beyond it being bang on trend, it's dinky measurements might even help emphasise the size of your arm. No bad thing – even if you aren't a Gladiator.
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