Tyler, The Creator shouldn't have been able to change the watch world this easily. Five years ago, if you were a rapper with money, you bought a double-decker bus-sized Audemars Piguet or a Richard Mille that looked like a futuristic toaster. Then Tyler showed up wearing a watch the size of a postage stamp.
Honestly, it shifted everything. The "Tyler the creator watch" phenomenon isn't just about one brand; it is a full-blown rejection of the "bigger is better" era that dominated hip-hop for decades. He basically traded the diamond-encrusted brick for Parisian elegance, and now every watch nerd on the planet is scouring eBay for vintage tanks.
The Cartier Obsession That Changed the Game
You've probably seen the photo. Tyler posted his collection on Instagram a while back, and it looked like a museum heist. We aren't talking about standard mall watches. He’s into the weird stuff—the shapes that look like they’ve been left in a hot car.
The centerpiece of his collection is undeniably the Cartier Crash. It’s a distorted, melted-looking gold piece that supposedly took its shape from a watch damaged in a car accident in the 60s. While most people were chasing Rolex Day-Dates, Tyler was dropping six figures on a watch that looks like a Salvador Dalí painting.
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But it’s not just the Crash. His rotation is deep.
- The Cartier Pebble: Also known as the "Baseball," this 1972 classic is a circle with a square dial inside. Only about six of the original London versions exist.
- The Tank Louis Cartier: The quintessential "old money" watch. He often swaps the leather straps for bright pastels to match his Golf le Fleur aesthetic.
- The Baignoire: A tiny, oval-shaped watch that many would traditionally call a "lady's watch." Tyler doesn't care. He wears it because it looks good with a cardigan.
He once told Robb Report that these watches simply bring him joy. It’s a refreshing take in an industry where watches are usually treated like stock certificates or hunting trophies.
It’s Not All Six-Figure Grails
What’s cool about Tyler's influence is that he doesn't just stick to the elite stuff. He’s been spotted wearing a Casio MQ24-9B. You can literally buy that watch at a drugstore or on Amazon for about $25.
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It’s a black resin watch with a tan dial. Simple. Plastic. Extremely light. For a guy who owns 18k gold Pebbles, wearing a $20 Casio is the ultimate flex because it proves he actually has taste beyond his bank account.
The Louis Vuitton Monterey II
This is one of the deep cuts. During his IGOR era and beyond, he started wearing the Louis Vuitton Monterey II, designed by Gae Aulenti in 1988. It’s a weird, ceramic-looking travel watch with a moon phase and a pointer date.
Before Tyler started wearing it, you could find these for relatively cheap because they were seen as an "oddity" from the era before LV was a serious watchmaker. After he was spotted with it? The price on the secondary market spiked. That’s the "Tyler Effect" in real-time.
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Why Small Watches are Winning in 2026
The trend has reached a fever pitch this year. At the 2026 Golden Globes, we saw more tiny Cartier and vintage pieces than ever before. It’s a move away from the "look at me" energy toward "if you know, you know."
Tyler’s pivot to vintage Cartier was a reaction to what he called "ugly-ass" bulky watches. He wanted something that felt like jewelry—something that sat under the sleeve of a suit rather than screaming over it.
What You Can Learn From His Collection
If you're looking to get into the Tyler the creator watch aesthetic without having a Grammy-winning budget, there are ways to do it.
- Ignore gender labels: Many of Tyler's favorites are technically "women's" sizes. In 2026, those lines are basically gone. If it fits your wrist and looks sharp, wear it.
- Focus on shape: Round watches are fine, but the interest lies in the rectangles, the ovals, and the "asymmetricals."
- Strap swaps are key: Tyler often puts high-end watches on bright green or baby blue leather straps. It takes the "stiffness" out of a luxury watch and makes it feel personal.
The real takeaway here is that your watch should reflect your personality, not your net worth. Whether it's a $20 Casio or a $200,000 Cartier Pebble, the best watch is the one that actually makes you smile when you check the time.
If you want to start building a collection with this vibe, start by looking into vintage Must de Cartier Tanks. They offer that classic look at a fraction of the price of solid gold models. Alternatively, grab that $25 Casio MQ24-9B and see how it feels to wear something that doesn't weigh down your arm. You might find that "small and simple" is exactly what your style has been missing.