Austin Butler Talks the Knicks, the ’90s, and Parachute Pants

Austin Butler arrived in New York City on Wednesday night, just in time to join the excitement surrounding the Knicks’ Game 4 victory and the wave of basketball energy across the city. The 34-year-old actor, a California native who has lived in New York since he was 20, said he has long followed the team and described the win as “unreal.” His visit also coincided with his work as an ambassador for Breitling, the Swiss luxury watch brand, which is relaunching its iconic 1990s Chronomat watch collection.

On Thursday night, Butler hosted a ’90s-themed event at Breitling’s Madison Avenue store to celebrate the new Chronomat lineup. The gathering leaned heavily into nostalgia, with a vintage Breitling-branded yellow taxi used for his arrival, Polaroid cameras for guests, and retro music filling the space. The event highlighted both the watchmaker’s heritage and Butler’s role in helping introduce the updated collection to a new audience.

Butler said he was drawn to Breitling because of the values the brand represents, especially adventure, exploration, and a rugged but elegant style. He noted that the company’s identity connects with activities such as riding motorcycles and flying planes, both of which appeal to him. He said he already rides motorcycles and hopes to learn to fly planes in the future.

The actor said the Chronomat’s return feels like an evolution of a classic design rather than a simple revival. He explained that he was not previously a watch expert, but learned more through his partnership with Breitling and grew to appreciate the nostalgia attached to the Chronomat. He pointed to memories of seeing the watch on Jerry Seinfeld’s character in “Seinfeld” and in images of Bruce Willis, which gave the timepiece added cultural significance for him. At the same time, he said the updated version includes modern changes that make it feel more suited to his own taste.

The new Chronomat collection includes 22 pieces, and Butler is expected to wear one of them if he appears courtside during the Knicks’ playoff run. The combination of sports buzz, fashion nostalgia, and brand promotion gave the New York appearance a distinctly retro-leaning energy.

Asked about his personal ’90s style preferences, Butler said he likes the layered look of a long-sleeve shirt under a short-sleeve shirt, though he was unsure whether the trend truly belongs to that decade. As for styles he would leave behind, he singled out parachute pants, joking that while some people might be able to pull them off, he would not be wearing them himself. He added, with humor, that if he ever does fly planes, a parachute could still come in handy.