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James Brittain-McVey’s best-documented watch lineup is the four watches he said he took on The Vamps’ European tour in 2023: a Grand Seiko SBGA413, a Rolex Explorer II ref. 226570, a vintage Seikomatic Self Dater and a vintage Tank Must de Cartier. Later profiles published in 2025 describe a collection that had since changed, including a trade from a Rolex Submariner Date to a vintage GMT-Master II ref. 1675/3. Those are dated snapshots, not a complete or definitive list of everything he owns or wears today.
What watches did James Brittain-McVey take on tour?
In a Time+Tide profile published on 18 March 2023, The Vamps’ lead guitarist described the four watches he had taken on the European leg of the band’s tour. He joked that choosing watches was harder than packing clothes: “I could take a “one watch collection” piece, but that would be boring.” The four watches reflected different tastes and roles rather than a single technical comparison.
| Watch | McVey’s description and significance |
|---|---|
| Grand Seiko SBGA413 “Cherry Blossom” | A modern watch he called the best he had spent time with, praising its Spring Drive movement, case finishing and dial color that changes with the light. |
| Rolex Explorer II ref. 226570, Polar dial | A practical choice connected to his long-standing fondness for the Explorer II line and his grail, the original ref. 1655. |
| Vintage Seikomatic Self Dater | A leather-strap option; McVey said he believed it dated to 1963 but did not know much about it. |
| Vintage Tank Must de Cartier | An 1980s manually wound watch with a “spider dial,” valued for its small, thin, simple character and personal story. |
Time+Tide’s 2023 tour profile is the source for these choices and McVey’s descriptions of them.
What stands out about the four tour watches?
Grand Seiko SBGA413 “Cherry Blossom”
McVey singled out the SBGA413 as the best watch he had spent time with. He admired the Spring Drive movement, finishing and the way the dial’s color shifts with changing light. Those are his personal impressions, not independent test findings. He also acknowledged that collectors debate the movement’s power reserve.
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Rolex Explorer II ref. 226570
McVey said the Explorer II had long been his favorite Rolex line. He described his 2022 Polar-dial ref. 226570 as a practical alternative to his grail, the original Explorer II ref. 1655. His reasoning was straightforward: “I want to put a watch on, be able to trust said watch, then forget about it and live my life.” The profile also mentioned grey-market prices approaching £30,000, but that was a dated observation in 2023, not a current valuation.
Vintage Seikomatic Self Dater
The Seikomatic filled McVey’s preference for bringing at least one leather-strap watch on tour. Its exact identity and age are not established: he said, “I believe it’s a 1963, but I’d love to learn more if any of the T+T audience can comment.” The source does not provide an exact reference or specifications, so the year should be treated as uncertain.
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Vintage Tank Must de Cartier
McVey described this as an 1980s manually wound Tank Must with a “spider dial.” He had heard conflicting explanations about whether the dial’s appearance resulted from lacquer deterioration or was part of its design; the cause remains unresolved in the interview. Its appeal was also personal: he liked its small, thin and simple form, and recalled that his wife first warmed to watches through this piece.
How did his collection change by 2025?
Two later profiles offer additional, but still partial, views. British GQ’s 1 December 2025 profile says McVey first became interested in watches through his wife’s father, a collector for 20 years. GQ reports that McVey bought his first Rolex Submariner Date in 2018, initially intending it to be his one robust watch for touring. He later traded it in a straight exchange for a vintage Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 1675/3, described as a “Rootbeer” sourced from the family of its original owner. GQ called that GMT-Master his current watch at the time of publication; the profile does not establish what he wears now.
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GQ also reports that McVey owns watches from Christopher Ward, Fears and Studio Underd0g, and had recently picked up Timex reissues that the article valued at £160. That figure belongs to the 2025 profile, not to a current price check. In the same story, McVey described his taste as a liking for “those under-appreciated, cult-following watches,” and spoke warmly about the enthusiasm people bring to collecting.
What else has been reported about his watches?
A Super Niche article published on 28 October 2025 summarizes a Wrist Check Podcast episode. In that podcast context, it mentions McVey’s custom Christopher Ward Bel Canto, inspired by a 1962 Fender Stratocaster, his Rolex Explorer II ref. 1655 grail, travel with valuable watches, and interest in watch community and independent brands. The article’s wrist-check captions identify an Omega Speedmaster Professional, Citizen Attesa and Christopher Ward London C12. These are details reported in a written summary of the podcast, not an exhaustive inventory.
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British GQ’s 2025 profile and Super Niche’s 2025 podcast summary broaden the picture beyond the 2023 tour selection, but neither claims to list every watch McVey owns.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.So, what watch does James McVey wear?
There is no single timeless answer in these profiles. The 2023 account names four watches he took on tour; British GQ later identified the GMT-Master II ref. 1675/3 as his current watch when its profile was published in December 2025. The most accurate answer is therefore date-specific: his reported watches span modern and vintage Rolex, Grand Seiko, Cartier, Seiko, and independent and other brands, while the available profiles do not establish a complete present-day collection.
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