Ed Sheeran showed the world just how serious his watch game is, not with words, but with one subtle flex: the Patek on TIME Magazine Cover. TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list is always star-studded, but this time it was Ed’s wrist that got horology forums buzzing. The man didn’t just show up with any luxury watch. He rolled in with the Patek Philippe 5004A, one of the rarest split-second chronographs Patek has ever made. And he wore it like it was no big deal, paired with a black T-shirt and casual confidence, which somehow made the move even more iconic.
Watch lovers know this isn’t some off-the-shelf piece. This is Ed Sheeran bringing out a grail, and doing it on one of the biggest magazine covers of the year. The moment has gone viral in horology circles, and rightly so; you don’t often see a stainless steel perpetual calendar with a split-seconds chronograph quietly steal the show from the world’s biggest names. But this Patek on TIME Magazine Cover did exactly that.
The Patek on TIME Magazine Cover Is More Than Just a Flex
Let’s talk about the watch itself, the Patek on TIME Magazine Cover moment isn’t just hype. It’s built on the real substance of the watch Ed chose. The Patek Philippe 5004A isn’t your average reference. First of all, it’s steel. That alone makes it rare for Patek’s grand complications, which are usually made of gold or platinum. Second, it was only made in a tiny batch of about 50 pieces. That’s right, five-zero. Most people have never even seen one in the wild.
The 5004A was released as a kind of farewell to the 5004 line when it was being discontinued around 2011. And instead of doing what Patek usually does, release a final version in platinum, they went off-script and did steel. That move made the 5004A instantly collectible. Inside, you’ve got the CHR 27-70 Q movement, based on Lemania’s solid chronograph caliber, heavily modified by Patek to include a split-seconds mechanism and a perpetual calendar. That means this little 36.7mm case holds some of the most advanced watchmaking of its era.
Market value? You're looking at somewhere between $600,000 and $1.2 million depending on condition and provenance. So yeah, the Patek on TIME Magazine Cover isn’t just for show, it's worth as much as a small house. No big deal.
What Makes The Patek Philippe 5004A So Rare?
The Patek Philippe 5004A is rare for a few key reasons, and each of them adds layers to its mystique. First, there’s the metal, stainless steel. While Rolex and AP play in steel often, Patek traditionally reserves that for simpler watches like the Nautilus. Complications in steel are virtually unheard of. So when the 5004A dropped, it was already an outlier.
Second, it’s the production run. Patek never did a public release for the 5004A. It was offered quietly to top-tier collectors, and even among them, only a lucky few were selected. The 5004 line was ending, and the 5004A was the bow-out edition. Think of it like Patek’s greatest hits album, if they only pressed 50 records.
Third, the movement. The CHR 27-70 Q is a serious piece of horology. It’s manually wound, split-seconds (rattrapante), and has a perpetual calendar. And it’s finished to the level that only Patek can do, anglage, Geneva stripes, and some of the most beautiful bridges ever made. If you appreciate the mechanics of watchmaking, the 5004 is a cathedral. And the 5004A? It’s the hidden rooftop chapel.
That’s why this Patek on TIME Magazine Cover watch feels so different. It’s not flashy. It’s not loud. It’s for the quiet collector who knows exactly what they have. And Ed Sheeran wearing Patek like this, casually, on a magazine cover, that’s the ultimate nod to real enthusiasts. He didn’t go for the iced-out Nautilus. He went for the piece most collectors would sell an organ to own.
Beyond the 5004A: Other Grail Watches He Owns
Now that the Patek on TIME Magazine Cover has spotlighted one of Ed’s crown jewels, let’s zoom out and appreciate the rest of his collection. Because trust us, it’s stacked. This isn’t a guy who bought five flashy watches when his album went platinum. This is someone who clearly built his collection with both heart and strategy.
Let’s highlight a few more pieces that would stop any collector mid-scroll:
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Patek Philippe 5370P
A split-seconds chronograph in platinum with black enamel dial. This one is a modern darling of the Patek faithful. It’s technically demanding, visually restrained, and sits in the $250K range on the secondary market. Sheeran’s been seen wearing it on multiple occasions, again showing he gravitates toward pieces that are more about what’s inside than flashy aesthetics.
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Richard Mille RM 38-01 “Bubba Watson”
Yep, Ed’s worn this white beast on stage. Designed for a professional golfer, it has shock resistance that could survive a concert tour. It’s bold, playful, and worth upwards of $800K. It may seem like a wild contrast to the understated 5004A, but it shows Ed’s versatility in the watch game, he doesn’t just collect classics; he also appreciates technical audacity.
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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Black Ceramic
This all-black AP is one of the coolest modern interpretations of the Royal Oak. Ed’s worn it in music videos and interviews, and with good reason. It’s lightweight, monochrome, and powered by an ultra-thin movement that still packs a full perpetual calendar. Market price? Just over $250,000.
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Rolex Daytona “Rainbow” in Everose Gold
Every collection needs a bit of wild, and this one fits the bill. Ed’s rocked the Rainbow Daytona with pride, adding a splash of color and celebrity-tier flair. At auction, this piece can fetch over $500,000, making it both a playful and powerful pick.
When you lay it all out, it becomes even clearer why the Patek on TIME Magazine Cover is such a fitting move. Ed Sheeran’s luxury watch collection covers the full spectrum: grand complications, bold statements, understated icons, and experimental independents. That kind of range shows not just money, but knowledge. And that’s why this watch moment feels so well-deserved.
Celebrity Wristwatch Moments That Made Headlines
The Patek on TIME Magazine Cover moment is instantly one of the most iconic celebrity-watch crossovers we’ve seen, but it joins a pretty epic lineup of other wrist-flex moments. Let’s rewind.
- Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona is the original legend. The image of him wearing it on track or casually in press photos didn’t just turn the watch into an icon, it created an entire subculture of Rolex collecting. When his actual Daytona went up for auction in 2017, it sold for a record $17.8 million. The story began with simple, organic visibility, Paul Newman loved the watch and wore it. Sound familiar? The same organic cool is what we’re seeing with Ed and the Patek on TIME Magazine Cover.
- Fast forward to Daniel Craig. As James Bond, Craig had already solidified Omega as the 007 brand. But when GQ put him on the cover in a perfectly tailored suit and an Omega Seamaster Professional 300M peeking out, that image landed everywhere. Omega couldn’t have paid for better press. It wasn’t about branding, it looked natural, believable. The kind of integration where the watch feels like a part of the person, not a corporate accessory.
- Then there’s John Mayer, one of the few other artists who could rival Ed in terms of collector status. Mayer has had cover shoots and stage moments with heavyweights like the Patek 5970G and his Richard Mille RM 2335. But more than that, he helped demystify the hobby by talking about it openly. Much like Ed does now.
- Jay-Z has also had several “cover with the watch” moments, one of the cleanest was a Vanity Fair feature where he wore a rose gold Rolex Day-Date. It didn’t scream; it was effortless luxury. That’s the line Sheeran walked too with his Patek on TIME Magazine Cover moment. Confidence, not clout.
- And don’t sleep on female stars bringing heat on their covers either. Ellen DeGeneres has been quietly collecting vintage Rolexes for years, and she’s worn pieces like the Daytona 6265 “Big Red” in editorial spreads. Rihanna, during her Fenty Beauty campaigns, has been spotted wearing yellow gold Presidentials and even a Royal Oak.
These moments are more than just celeb styling. They’re cultural mile markers. They introduce a whole new audience to the emotional power of watches. When a celeb like Ed Sheeran rocks a unicorn like the Patek on TIME Magazine Cover, it sends ripples across both fashion and collector communities.
Get the Look: Patek on TIME Magazine Cover
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