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When he’s not showing off his customized Patek Philippe Nautilus or one-of-one Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks, Ed Sheeran is a real man of the people. Sheeran’s taste for watches is as extreme in the lows as it is in the highs. He’s been known to wear Omega and Swatch’s $260 MoonSwatch and supported John Mayer’s similarly affordable collaboration with G-Shock and Hodinkee. Now, the musician was seen wearing a version of the extremely buyable G-Shock DW-6900 (available for less than 100 bucks).
The G-Shock DW-6900 is probably the most recognizable model in the G-Shock family. This version of the watch was beloved by celebrities like Pharrell, Usher, and the man formerly known as Kanye West in the 2000s. The 6900 is also the watch collaborators have lined up to work on for decades. The list of names that have appearedafter the phrase “G-Shock x” includes Supreme, Kid Cudi, Bape, Mayer, Stussy, Bamford, and Wu-Tang Clan.
Naturally, Sheeran isn’t wearing your standard DW-6900 either. The watch looks like it could be from the Supreme collaboration or even this FIFA World Cup edition, but neither are an exact match. In typical Sheeran fashion, this version of the G-Shock appears to be another one-off in the “South of the Border” singer’s collection. This bright yellow piece is a worthy addition to his stellar lineup: the dial has a slightly peachy tint and the strap is customized with artwork.
Sheeran is someone who seems to absolutely love and respect the history of watches and how it connects to pop culture. He buys up the buzziest collaborations, wore a special-edition James Bond watch for a 007-themed episode of a talk show, and clearly appreciates the G-Shock’s rightful place as a pillar of watch history. Best of all, at a retail price of less than $100, this is a cue from Sheeran we can all follow.
Butler seems to have an appreciation for all things from the 2000s: he unabashedly loves Nickelback and wants to play the in-the-mud basketball that won the Detroit Pistons a championship in ‘04. His watch is a throwback to that era, too. Jacob the Jeweler is an aughts icon, outfitting virtually every celebrity from that decade with his gaudy watches. Butler’s Epic X is made for showing off, with a tourbillon at the center of the rose-gold case.
Patek Philippe wasn’t going to sit back and let everyone else have all the fun with dazzling gem-set chronograph watches. This watch exemplifies the Patek way of getting in on the trend—there’s no rainbow of sapphires here. What you will find is a more understated beauty: a rose-gold case and black dial with a ring of 36 baguette diamonds on the bezel. Hart certainly knows how to pick them.
Few brands are doing cooler work with ceramic cases than AP. The brand uses the super-tough, unscratchable material to turn out monochrome watches in Smurf-y blue and fresh-snow white. Ibrahimovic’s watch is the original: an all-black take on the Royal Oak. Hashtag funereal vibes for the soccer star’s recent retirement announcement.
Wade’s Cartier provides an important lesson, ladies and gentlemen: don’t overlook the strap. After dropping a few grand on your grail watch, it’s just as important to consider how you’re going to get that thing to stick on the wrist. Wade’s Tank, with diamonds trickling down the side of the case, is a classic—but it’s that baby blue strap he paired it with that I simply can’t get enough of.
