Inside John Mayer’s US$10 million haute horlogerie hobby: from endorsing Rolex Daytonas to owning exquisite Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks and Patek Philippes that can fetch millions at auction

Dec 31 , 2023

Award-winning musician John Mayer is an avid watch collector. Photo: Future

The 46-year-old musician is a respected watch commentator, serving as juror for the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève among other commitments, which celebrates excellence in Swiss watchmaking

Mayer is so fond of Rolex that there was even an 18k yellow gold Rolex Daytona with a green dial that got nicknamed the ‘John Mayer’ after he praised it, driving its value up

There are a lot of rich and famous individuals who boast watch collections that would make your eyes water – but few of them are as avid about their hobby as John Mayer.

A long-time enthusiast, Mayer’s collection is rumoured to number over a hundred timepieces, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, according to the singer himself. Not content to simply acquire and wear the big-ticket status symbols, the seven-time Grammy Award winner also immerses himself deeply in the world of haute horlogerie.

John Mayer is a highly successful American singer-songwriter and guitarist. Photo: Getty Images

For example, he has served as a juror for the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, a highly regarded event that celebrates excellence in Swiss watchmaking. Mayer also contributes his insights to watch website Hodinkee through written columns and YouTube segments with fellow celebrity collectors such as Ed Sheeran.

CNBC has reported that Mayer’s luxury watch collection makes up around 25 per cent of his estimated US$40 million net worth, including several timepieces that could fetch seven figures at auction, thanks to their rarity.

Here’s a closer look at some of the highlights from John Mayer’s rare and exquisitely curated watch collection:

Rolex Daytonas

The green dial Daytona was famously endorsed by John Mayer, hence its nickname. Photo: @wc_auction/Twitter

Mayer is a vocal fan of Rolex watches and he’s open about his long-time love for the brand. He started his Rolex collection in the early 2000s with a Rolex Explorer II. Over time, he’s added many, many more – most notably the popular Daytona models.