Eric Clapton Rolex Collection

Eric Clapton is in a class all by himself. The hitmaker and guitarist has a sterling career spanning decades; and was the first to be inducted thrice to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Music isn’t his only passion – he’s also a respected and prolific watch collector with museum-quality taste. Alongside his Fender, we can admire excellent timepieces from modern classics to rare vintage and prototype models.

Eric sports the most versatile modern GMT that Rolex has produced to date. The Rolex GMT-Master II ref 116710 comes with a stainless steel body and a black ceramic GMT bezel and matching dial. The last of the GMT-Masters to feature a single color bezel insert, this model was discontinued in 2018 but is still very much sought after.

We’ve spotted Slowhand on stage with his Rolex Milgauss 116400GV. The steel case, smooth bezel and time-only dial of the Milgauss is often overlooked, but is definitely not to be missed. Inside is a ferromagnetic shield that surrounds the movement, protecting it from magnetic fields of up to 1,000 gauss. This reference also stands out for its green crystal and orange thunderbolt hands and index markers.

When it comes to the Submariner, Eric prefers rare vintage classics. He wears the elusive Rolex Red Submariner ref 1680, called such because of the Submariner name scrawled in red across the dial. This feature was shortlived and exclusive to the 1680 line of Submariners, making the model sought after.

As impressive as his collection may be, Eric doesn’t hold on to all of his watches – he’s actually a prolific benefit auctioneer, whose guitars, cars, and watches have been auctioned off for charitable causes.

In 2003, he auctioned off his Rolex Submariner ref 5513 with a rare Explorer dial. The 3-6-9 Arabic numerals used for Explorer models seldom appeared in Submariners from the 1960s, placing this among Rolex’s rarest sport watches.

Eric has fantastic taste in Rolex Daytona watches, a couple of which he has auctioned off as well. One of them was the modern Paul Newman Daytona, whose tricolor dial is an ode to the signature watch of the famed actor and racer. The solid 18k yellow gold case, tachymeter bezel and bracelet, gives it a stunning array of colors and premium details. (image: Phillips)

Of course, the original Paul Newman Daytona won’t be missing from such a stellar collection. Still in Eric’s watch box is the reference 6239 with the famed Paul Newman exotic dial, whose contrasting colors and Art Deco numerals were popularized by the actor-racer. Eric also wears his on a black leather fat strap, just like Paul Newman himself did.

Eric also once owned an extremely rare prototype that was never offered to the public – a Rolex Yachtmaster Daytona. Rolex experimented with the nautical theme in the 60s and early 70s, but only brought the Yachtmaster to market decades later in the 1990s. There are only 3 known examples of this Rolex Yachtmaster prototype. Eric sold his in 2003 for the benefit of his Crossroads foundation. (image: RolexMagazine)

Eric also broke auction records when he sold his Rolex “Albino” Daytona in 2003. This reference 6263 comes with a pure silver monochromatic dial and was the only known example of such a Daytona at the time. It sold for $505,000 at Sotheby’s New York; and is said to have ushered in the era of vintage Rolex Daytona collecting. (image: Phillips)

Eric also has several of Rolex’s flagship watch – the Rolex Day-Date. Made exclusively in 18 karat gold or platinum, the Day-Date has earned a reputation as the choice timepiece of presidents, leaders, and diplomats. He likes to go on stage with his platinum Rolex Day-Date, whose glacier blue dial is reserved for the noble metal.

Eric has also auctioned off two of his Rolex Day-Date watches – one in Everose gold and the other in yellow gold. What makes these watches stand out is that instead of the President bracelet that the Day-Date is usually paired with, these have Oyster bracelets which are considered more sporty. (image: Phillips)