Inside Ed Sheeran’s US$6 million luxury watch collection – surprised to see Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille on the famously dressed-down pop star’s wrist?

May 12 , 2022

Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran has amassed a collection of US$6 million worth of luxury Swiss watches, including Richard Mille’s RM 38-01 Tourbillon G-Sensor Quartz TPT and Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin in black ceramic. Photos: Instagram/handout

Sheeran says fellow singer John Mayer encouraged his interest, leading him to limited editions like a vintage Patek Philippe 2499 and green Nautilus 5711/1300A

Richard Mille is another fave: he owns the RM 38-01 Tourbillon G-Sensor Bubba Watson White Quartz TPT and a vivid RM 27-03 designed for Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal

As one of the richest pop stars in the world, with a net worth of around US$200 million, you might expect Ed Sheeran to splurge on lavish properties, private jets and fancy cars. But did you know that the notoriously dressed-down British singer – who has also written two mega-hits for K-pop’s BTS (2019’s Make It Right and 2021’s Permission to Dance) – has a serious penchant for exquisite timepieces? In fact, it’s estimated that the Grammy winner’s luxury watch collection is worth over US$6 million.

British singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran on stage at the Brit Awards 2022 in February. Photo: AFP

In 2019, the 31-year-old revealed that he had been collecting watches since he was 20 and that he got hooked on timepieces partly because of notable watch freak (and fellow pop star) John Mayer.

“I have bought watches for big occasions or momentous things that have happened in my life and career. I can pinpoint each watch to a special moment in my life. An IWC Big Pilot for my 22nd birthday, or a Patek Philippe 5004 for being nominated for my first Grammy (in 2012). Many memories and many watches, but they are all just as special and hold just as much meaning,” he shared with the Hodinkee community of watch lovers and enthusiasts.

So let’s take a closer look at some of most prized pieces from the singer’s timepiece collection.

Patek Philippe 2499

Ed Sheeran sporting Patek Philipe’s 2499 perpetual calendar. Photo: @Insaneluxurylife/Instagram

During the UK premiere of Yesterday in 2019, Sheeran was snapped wearing an extremely rare and vintage Patek Philippe 2499 perpetual calendar chronograph with moon phases. Only 349 pieces of the model were ever produced between 1950 and 1985, and at Sotheby’s auction in 2018, one of the most remarkable wristwatches that Patek Philippe ever designed was sold for US$3.9 million.

Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1300A

Sheeran is definitely a Patek Philippe fan. A now-voracious collector of rare timepieces, he wore the super-rare green-dial Nautilus for the British GQ Men of the Year Awards ceremony in 2021.