Maintaining Time With Chef Daniel Boulud: Breaking Down His Watch Assortment, Want-Record Timepieces + Extra

Picture Credit score: Scott McDermott

Chef Daniel Boulud appreciates the entire best particulars of life—from the rarest ingredient within the kitchen to a prized classic bottle of wine, unique automobiles and naturally, luxurious timepieces. We lately caught up with the world-renowned chef at his eponymous Restaurant DANIEL in New York to debate all issues time—he shared with us the primary timepiece he ever obtained, first bought, a few of his favorites in his assortment, in addition to what he would purchase if cash have been no object. Discover out all the small print beneath:

HT: We all know you’re a watch collector. What are a few of your favourite items in your assortment? 

DB: I simply bought a brand new watch from Audemars Piguet. It’s blue and brown and has a leather-based strap—I prefer it as a result of it’s tremendous good however not flashy. It’s not French blue, however extra of a deep-sea blue. Proper now, I’m sporting a Rolex Daytona. It is a Rolex that could be very near my coronary heart as a result of it belonged to an expensive pal of mine. We share a tragic story collectively, so he wished to offer me this watch. It’s very particular to me due to that. I even have the GMT Panerai in double gold, which I additionally love. I’ve one of many first ceramic Panerai watches that got here out in black.

I like ceramic in a watch as a result of it by no means scratches, and as a chef, you want that since you’re working within the kitchen with stainless-steel, coming from loads of totally different angles, the place your watch isn’t all the time protected. I even have a Hublot watch that I like, and you may see I’ve the Hublot clock hanging within the kitchen [points below from his Skybox to the kitchen at DANIEL], which I obtained from Mr. Jean-Claude Biver. I’m additionally an enormous automobile man, so I like Chopard as a result of they do the Mille Miglia.

The final AP I purchased, I bought for my son to finally have. My son is 5 years previous, however I’ve realized I have already got to begin gathering watches to move right down to him [laughs].

HT: What was the primary watch you ever purchased for your self?

DB: The primary watch I purchased was after I was 16 years previous, it was a Pierre Cardin. Pierre has all the time been a tremendous designer, and again within the ’60s and ’70s, he created a brilliant cool watch, which was very telling of the time interval. It was very modern. Again then I used to be going to the golf equipment already [laughs], so I used to put on it out. I used to be dwelling on my own in Lyon. I left dwelling after I was simply 14 years previous and began to work within the kitchen.

HT: How did you progress your purchases from there?

DB: After, I had a part the place I used to be loving diving watches, after which moved extra towards refined watches. When you have got a milestone in your life, a watch may be crucial for a person, and I’ve been gathering watches for fairly a very long time.

HT: What is certainly one of your on a regular basis watches? 

DB: I feel Rolex is superb for on a regular basis put on. It’s a watch that’s made for each sturdiness and elegance, in addition to, in fact, its issues.

HT: If cash was no object, what watch would you buy?

DB: Effectively, I’ve been making an attempt to faucet Richard Mille for some time to work with me on one thing to create a chef’s watch. That might be superb. I like their watches as a result of they’re so light-weight and excellent for the kitchen.