Grammys 2020 And The Serious Watch Collectors Among Music Royalty

Last night the 2020 edition of the Grammy awards was a clean sweep for Billie Eilish, who took home all the four major awards; the one for best album, record, the song of the year, and best new artist. This hadn’t happened since 1981 when Christopher Cross accomplished precisely the same thing. All of the royalty of the music world was in attendance, and among them are, surprisingly or not, quite a few passionate watch collectors. Their success enables them to pursue their passion, but the way in which they do this differs.

Photo Credit: Nick Jonas @Instgram

While Nick Jonas opted for a Richard Mille to wear at his Grammy-award performance, he recently attended the Golden Globes awards with a very special Bulgari around his wrist. This Octo L’Originale features a case, dial, and bracelet, completely set with baguette-cut diamonds. With a price-tag of almost one million dollars, it is one of the most expensive watches that this Italian luxury brand has in its catalog.

Jonas is not the only Richard Mille fan among music royalty, as so is Jay-Z. He owns quite a few and among them an RM027 Tourbillon. Jay-Z counts as a real watch connoisseur among the music artists and has a broad taste. His collection includes acclaimed brands such as Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Jaeger-LeCoultre. With Hublot, he even created a limited edition based upon the Classic Fusion. For this, he used his real name, Shawn Carter, and the watch was available in black ceramic or gold. Perhaps one of his most unique watches is the Rolex Perpetual Calendar that he owns. Rolex never made such a timepiece, but it was the well-known master watchmaker Franck Muller who adapted one of their watches and fitted it with this complication.

Multi-talent Swizz Beatz, whose wife Alicia Keys hosted the 2020-edition of the Grammys, is also known as a passionate watch collector. Early on in his career, he focused mainly on complicated models by Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Hublot, but recently he also collaborated with Zenith on a collection of unique watches. Instantly recognizable by their white and orange colors, they are based upon legendary models like the Defy Zero G and Defy El Primero 21. Swizz Beatz gave them a distinct touch of his own, utilizing not only color but also white ceramic and diamonds.

Another prominent member of music royalty with a more than impressive watch collection is Eric Clapton. He has a passion for vintage pieces and is known to own several of the most collectible Rolex models, but he is also very fond of other brands. Among them is Patek Philippe. Clapton owned for over ten years a platinum ref.2499 perpetual calendar by the brand. What makes this watch so exceptional is that it is believed to be the only ref.2499 in platinum in private hands, as the other one is part of Patek Philippe’s museum collection. While this is enough for many to keep such a watch safely hidden in a vault, Clapton enjoyed this rare piece to the fullest, as he was often spotted wearing it in public.