Ryan Reynolds Acquires Aubert & Ramel Ouréa
The actor bought an Ouréa watch after taking an intensive watchmaking class with the independent Swiss brand in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Jewelry
Actor Ryan Reynolds acquired an Aubert & Ramel Ouréa watch, the first timepiece unveiled by the independent Swiss brand founded in 2024. Reynolds also took an intensive watchmaking class with Aubert & Ramel in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
Why it matters
The purchase highlights a small independent watch brand gaining attention through a high-profile buyer and a hands-on approach to watchmaking. It also draws interest to a limited, subscription-based release model in the luxury timepiece market.
The Ouréa is produced in a limited run, with six platinum pieces ordered under subscription and 14 titanium pieces priced at 72,000 francs. Its hand-wound movement, which takes over 800 hours to design and develop, beats at 18,000 vph and holds a 72-hour power reserve, while the 40.4 mm platinum case carries a silver dial.
The players
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds is a Canadian actor and businessman known for film roles and his ownership of Aviation Gin and Mint Mobile.
Aubert & Ramel
Aubert & Ramel is an independent Swiss watch brand founded in 2024 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, known for its limited-edition Ouréa timepiece.
Thomas Aubert
Thomas Aubert is a Swiss watchmaker and co-founder of Aubert & Ramel who won the F.P. Journe Young Talent Competition in 2024.
The details
Aubert & Ramel developed the limited edition through discussions with its first six clients, and each watch is crafted over two years in the Swiss workshop. Reynolds posted an Instagram image of an Ouréa and wrote that he took an intensive class with the brand.
Timeline
2024: Aubert & Ramel established in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and founder Thomas Aubert wins the F.P. Journe Young Talent Competition.
November 4, 2026: Reynolds' acquisition of the Ouréa is reported.
November 5, 2026: Reynolds publishes his Instagram post about the watchmaking class.
Culture Shift
The F.P. Journe Young Talent Competition has long served as a launchpad for independent Swiss watchmakers seeking recognition outside the major conglomerates. Aubert & Ramel's founding by a 2024 winner of that competition, followed by a celebrity purchase, illustrates how small independent brands are increasingly gaining cultural visibility.
For collectors, the Ouréa's limited run and subscription-based sales mean that most buyers must engage with the brand directly rather than through retail. The two-year craft timeline also means that any future pieces will arrive on a long delivery schedule.
The takeaway
Independent watch brands can build demand through small, subscription-based releases and direct collaboration with clients. Buyers interested in similar pieces should research a brand's production model and delivery timeline before committing.
Further reading
For more on independent timepieces and fine accessories, explore our Jewelry coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Robb Report.
