The Story of The Citizen Bullhead Chronograph (AKA The Brad Pitt Watch)
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The year 1969 was special. NASA's Apollo 11 mission successfully landed on the moon, Woodstock and the debut of Led Zeppelin became cultural milestones. The Manson murders instilled global fear, and in the world of horology, the first automatic chronographs were introduced.
Though seemingly unrelated, the latter two connect to Quentin Tarantino's ninth film, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood.
This film features a series of cameo-filled events set in Hollywood in 1969, revolving around Leonardo DiCaprio's and Brad Pitt's characters, a fictional actor and his stuntman. They interact with real stars of the time, portrayed by today's actors, like Steve McQueen by Damian Lewis and Sharon Tate by Margot Robbie.
True to Tarantino's style, the film is highly entertaining; however, this isn't a movie review.
Amidst the star-studded cast, there’s an unexpected star of the film: a gold watch on Cliff Booth’s (Brad Pitt) wrist. This watch/strap combo evokes Paul Newman's style and fits Cliff’s rugged persona, reminiscent of McQueen, with aviators, a Hawaiian shirt over a Champion t-shirt, and washed-out jeans.
The watch, a "bullhead" Citizen Challenge Timer chronograph, has a gold-tone case and a gold panda dial with a black tachymeter. It is a perfect watch for Cliff’s character, who could be seen wearing a lesser-known brand like Citizen for the era.
However, this specific Citizen watch did not exist in 1969; its flyback 8110 caliber was introduced in 1972. Unlike the pioneering automatic chronographs from Heuer, Zenith, and Seiko in 1969, the Citizen watch came later.
Given Tarantino's meticulous attention to detail, the inaccuracy is surprising. Nevertheless, it seems like an intentional choice, perhaps serving as an easter egg.
This cool, underappreciated watch earns its place on the silver screen in what has become a cult classic due to its director and cast.
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