Featured image: Alesili, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
John Mayer is most associated with the yellow gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116508 with a green dial, a watch collectors nicknamed the “John Mayer Daytona” after he discussed it on Hodinkee’s Talking Watches. He has also co-designed a limited Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar (2024) and a series of Casio G-Shock Ref. 6900 watches with Hodinkee.
Quick answer Mayer is one of the best-known watch collectors in music, and the watch most tied to his name is the Rolex Daytona 116508 with a green dial. He designed the $180 Casio G-Shock Ref. 6900 with Hodinkee in 2020 and, in March 2024, helped create the 200-piece Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “John Mayer” (26574BC). Most of the rest of his collection, which reportedly includes Patek Philippe, IWC and vintage Rolex Daytonas and Submariners, comes from his own interviews and press coverage.
Rolex Daytona 116508: the “John Mayer” Daytona
The 116508 is an 18k yellow gold Daytona with a glossy green dial (dealers often call it the green anniversary dial), first shown at Baselworld in 2016. It earned its nickname after Mayer talked about it in his second appearance on Hodinkee’s Talking Watches, according to dealers and auction houses that now list it as the “John Mayer” Daytona. Phillips, for instance, notes that the reference gained fame after he discussed it on the show.
Rolex did not build it for him. The nickname simply reflects how closely collectors link the watch to his enthusiasm for it.
| Spec | Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116508 (green dial) |
|---|---|
| Case size | 40mm |
| Case material | 18k yellow gold, with matching gold bracelet |
| Dial | Glossy deep green |
| Movement | Rolex calibre 4130, automatic chronograph |
| Water resistance | 100 meters |
| Years made | Introduced 2016; later replaced by ref. 126508 |
| Approximate price | Pre-owned only now; one example sold at Phillips in 2026 for CHF 60,960 (estimate CHF 30,000 to 60,000) |
Where to buy
Compare the same watch on both sites: eBay for pre-owned and vintage pieces, Amazon for new stock.
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116508 Green Dial
Casio G-Shock DW-6900 Alternative
Tudor Black Bay Chrono Alternative
Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Alternative
Prices and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
His collecting story
Mayer’s first Talking Watches episode dates to 2013, and Hodinkee Japan republished it in January 2021. In it he shows a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time ref. 5164A with a Tiffany dial, a Rolex GMT-Master II ref. 116710BLNR, an IWC Big Pilot ref. 5002 he had owned for more than ten years, an IWC Aquatimer Cousteau Divers, a Rolex Submariner ref. 1680 in COMEX specification, a military ref. 5517 Submariner, a Rolex Daytona ref. 6263 and a white gold Patek Philippe 5970.
WatchGecko adds that his reported Rolex holdings include several Daytona 6263s, among them a panda-dial “Paul Newman” example and a yellow gold version with a Tiffany & Co. dial, plus Comex Submariners in refs. 5514 and 1680. As a fan-written overview, it is best read as reported rather than confirmed.
The South China Morning Post reports he began his Rolex collection in the early 2000s with an Explorer II and now owns more than 100 watches. It also names the Patek Philippe 5004 as a favorite. WatchGecko likewise describes several Daytona 6263 references and a one-off 5004, but it is a fan-written overview, so we treat the specific claims as reported.
Mayer is also a juror for the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, according to the SCMP. Other celebrity collectors in our archive include Jerry Seinfeld and Ellen DeGeneres, and you can browse more Rolex stories in our Rolex hub.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “John Mayer”
Audemars Piguet named Mayer a “creative conduit” and unveiled a limited Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in March 2024 at its Social Club event in Milan. The reference is 26574BC.OO.1220BC.02: 41mm in 18k white gold, 9.5mm thick, with a blue “Crystal Sky” dial that Mayer wanted to be able to stare at for long periods.
It runs on calibre 5134 and is limited to 200 pieces. Time+Tide reported a price of CHF 150,000. Mayer has said the project took about three years.
Mayer’s other great love in the collection is the IWC Big Pilot ref. 5002, which WatchGecko reports he wore on tour from 2005 to 2009. The Talking Watches write-up notes that he had owned his example for more than ten years. It shows how his taste runs from big, legible tool watches to the most complicated pieces from Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet.
Casio G-Shock Ref. 6900 by John Mayer
The affordable end of Mayer’s output is the G-Shock. Hodinkee launched the Casio G-Shock Ref. 6900 by John Mayer on December 8, 2020, at $180, following its $40 million funding round, in which Mayer also took part. WatchPro says it was inspired by the Casiotone SK-5 keyboard he played growing up in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is a 53.2mm resin watch with Japanese quartz and the usual G-Shock features: a 24-hour clock, stopwatch, countdown timer and multi-function alarm, according to Gear Patrol.
Fashion United reported a second collaboration in December 2021, and Boss Hunting covered a third in December 2022. These were limited drops and sell out quickly, so check resale markets for current prices.
Similar watches and affordable alternatives
The 6900 case shape comes from Casio’s mid-1990s G-Shock line, so the standard model remains the easiest way into the Mayer look.
The simplest stand-in for his everyday look is a standard Casio G-Shock DW-6900, which costs roughly $100 to $150. For a green-dial chronograph without the gold price, a Tudor Black Bay Chrono or a Seiko Prospex Speedtimer gives the same racing feel for far less than a Rolex.
If you like the Mayer-style pilot watch, an IWC Big Pilot is the real thing, and a pilot-style automatic from Hamilton or Oris is a lower-cost take. Our guide to the best dive watches also covers the Submariner-style options Mayer collects in vintage form.
FAQ
What watch does John Mayer wear?
He is best known for his Rolex Daytonas, especially the yellow gold green-dial ref. 116508, and he also wears Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and IWC. He co-designed an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Casio G-Shock Ref. 6900.
What is the John Mayer Daytona?
It is the Rolex Daytona ref. 116508 in yellow gold with a green dial. The nickname came after Mayer spoke about it on Hodinkee’s Talking Watches.
Did John Mayer design a watch?
Yes, two. He designed the Casio G-Shock Ref. 6900 with Hodinkee in 2020 and co-created the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “John Mayer” in 2024, limited to 200 pieces.
How much is John Mayer’s watch collection worth?
Media estimates run into the millions. The SCMP describes it as a hobby worth roughly US$10 million, but there is no verified figure from Mayer himself.
How much is the G-Shock by John Mayer?
It launched at $180 in December 2020. It was a limited edition, so resale prices can be higher now.
Is John Mayer an Audemars Piguet ambassador?
Audemars Piguet named him a “creative conduit” in 2024 rather than a traditional ambassador. We could not confirm whether that role is still active in 2026.
Sources
- Hodinkee Japan: Talking Watches with John Mayer
- Time+Tide: John Mayer joins forces with Audemars Piguet for a Royal Oak QP
- Robb Report Australia: John Mayer named Audemars Piguet creative conduit
- WatchPro: Hodinkee teams up with John Mayer on new G-Shock
- Phillips: Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ref. 116508
- South China Morning Post: Inside John Mayer’s US$10 million haute horlogerie hobby