Sir Elton John has not only collected hits throughout his career. An art and luxury items enthusiast, the singer has also always had a passion for watchmaking.
On February 21, 2024, several of these objects that once belonged to the pop legend are set to be auctioned off. Meanwhile, an exhibition allows some of them to be discovered at Christie’s, in New York. In addition to paintings, stage costumes, and even a piano, it’s Elton John’s watches that promise to stir up passions.
Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, Rolex, Jaeger-LeCoultre and “of course” Franck Müller… this watch collection hides real gems!
Elton John, a true watch enthusiast
Your Song, Rocket Man, I’m Still Standing, Candle in the Wind… Everyone surely has one of the hits that marked Elton John’s career in mind. Sir Elton John. But alongside his songs, the man has also made a mark with his often very extravagant and colorful stage outfits. This is just as true for the costumes as it is for the watches that Elton John regularly sports on his wrist. Because while he has never hidden his penchant for fashion, the singer is also a true enthusiast of watchmaking.
The story tells that it was in the early 1970s that the trigger took place, after meeting Franck Muller (whom he himself nicknamed “the Picasso of watches”). Shapes, color, ostentation, in short, audacity! That’s how Elton John envisions beautiful watches. And to push the envelope even further, he turns to the Bamford Watch Department to customize his timepieces.
George Bamford then envisages new straps, sometimes daring settings on the cases and dials… Elton John’s watches become unique pieces, works of art in their own right, and this becomes apparent when discovering the models put up for auction in New York.
These 5 watches could set the auction on fire
In total, 31 watches owned by Elton John will be auctioned off on February 21st. Cartier is the most represented brand in this collection, notably with a gold edition of the Crash, which could exceed 100,000 euros in the final price.
But the Rocket Man has also adorned his wrist with some beauties from Audemars Piguet, Hublot or Chopard that should delight collectors.
Chopard ref. 1729
This unique piece signed by Chopard was designed in the early 2010s for the benefit of Elton John’s foundation for the fight against AIDS. The 45 mm white gold case is covered in diamonds, with two skulls located at the horns. Initial estimates put the selling price between 9000 and 14 000 euros.
Piaget Tanagra
Here is yet another unique piece (who would have guessed!), a Piaget watch fully covered with diamonds and precious stones on the strap, the case, the bezel, and the dial. This yellow gold watch from the early 1990s is powered by a simple quartz movement, but its price could exceed 15,000€.
A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia ref. 803.031
This Saxonia is not unique… but very rare! It tends to prove that Elton John could also exhibit a certain restraint in his look, since this watch only has diamonds set on the bezel. For the rest, we find the elegance of A. Lange & Söhne, with a 34mm white gold case and a streamlined dial featuring the emblematic large date at noon. Enough to hope to see bids exceed 20,000 euros.
Rolex Daytona Leopard
Purists are likely to break out in a cold sweat! This is indeed a Daytona Cosmograph from Rolex. But above all, this watch was not custom-made for Elton John, but was indeed designed in its current state by the crown brand!
This exotic version of the Daytona was officially launched in 2004, but some copies bear a “K” serial number from 2001, as is the case for this K591067 model (proof of Rolex’s hesitation to truly market this leopard watch?).
The 40 mm gold case is covered with 48 diamonds at the lug, as well as 36 orange sapphires on the bezel and 8 diamonds as index markers on the leopard dial. It’s hard to go unnoticed with this Rolex which price could approach 55,000 euros.
Cartier Crash
We conclude this brief overview of Elton John’s watches with the one that is already announced as THE star of this auction. It is from a limited series released in 1991 and the presence of the original hallmarks attests to its authenticity.
If this iconic watch recalls Dali’s Persistence of Memory, Francesca Cartier Brickell, the granddaughter of Jean-Jacques Cartier, confirmed that this Crash was conceived in the 1960s. Cartier and the designer Rupert Emmerson then wanted to create a model that starkly contrasted with the straight lines of the Tank or with the more traditional round and oval cases. One can say that it’s successful, the Cartier Crash now delighting collectors. For this model having belonged to Elton John, it might cost up to 100,000 euros.
