Controversy and Conor McGregor go hand in hand, with the UFC fighter hitting headlines recently, for the wrong reasons, as he was found liable for assault in an incident that happened in 2018.
As an athlete, McGregor is one of the greats; he is a former UFC Featherweight Champion and Lightweight Champion in 2015 and 2016, respectively. In addition to this, he was the first UFC fighter to hold UFC championships in two weight classes, simultaneously. Sadly, his personality and history outside of the sport makes him a very questionable character.
The infamous Irishman has a very interesting watch collection, consisting of some of the most sought-after watches in the horological world.
Conor McGregor & Rolex Day-Date 40s, Reference 228235, 228206, 228238
Being seen with one Day-Date is impressive, but owning three is a huge flex. McGregor has been spotted wearing three different Day-Date 40 models, the first one being reference 228235 cast in 18K rose gold with the olive green dial and roman numerals.
This is a really special model because this piece was launched to celebrate the 60th-year-anniversary of the Day-Date collection. There are watch configurations that Rolex have been very successful from and that is the case for combining rose gold with the olive green dial. This Day-Date 40 has a market value of £40,000.
The second Day-Date 40 model is reference 228206, in platinum with the ice blue dial, smooth bezel and baguette-cut diamond hour markers. This is a really stunning piece that was discontinued in 2022 and replaced by reference 228236.
This platinum Day-Date 40 in McGregor’s collection has a market value of £50,000.
The final Day-Date 40 model is reference 228238, in 18K yellow-gold with the champagne dial also featuring baguette-cut diamond hour markers like his platinum model.
This yellow-gold Day-Date has a market price of £35,000.
Conor McGregor & Rolex Day-Date 36, Reference 128348RBR
McGregor has a fourth Day-Date model, this one being a Day-Date 36 meaning it has a 36mm case size, and this piece is crazy consisting of factory-set diamonds.
This piece is cast in 18K yellow-gold with the beautiful green ombré dial and has a factory-set diamond bezel with round brilliant-cut diamond hour markers and a diamond set presidential bracelet!
When we mention configurations that are amazing combinations, yellow-gold and a green dial are a huge success for Rolex, and the addition of factory-set diamonds takes this watch a step further. This Day-Date 36 model retails for £92,000 with an estimated market value of just over £100,000 because the diamonds are factory.
Conor McGregor & Rolex Daytona, Reference 116508
Continuing with the combination of yellow-gold and the green dial, the two-time champion has been seen with the Daytona ‘John Mayer,’ reference 116508.
After a production run of seven years, this piece was discontinued in 2023 and did not receive an upgraded version. Funnily enough, this watch was not a massive hit to begin with until musician and watch enthusiast John Mayer spoke about this piece in an interview which had his name linked to this Daytona model.
This Daytona, reference 116508 has a market value of £60,000 which is highly above retail!
Conor McGregor & Rolex Daytona, Reference 116588TBR ‘Eye of the Tiger’
McGregor has been spotted with another Daytona, known as the ‘Eye of the Tiger’ model, cast in 18K yellow-gold and a beautiful dial design comforted by the oysterflex bracelet.
This model was first seen in 2019, with two other model references- one also in yellow-gold with a diamond-set oyster bracelet (116598TBR) and one in white gold (116589TBR). In the bezel, there are 36 factory-set trapeze-cut diamonds and on the dial, there is a tiger-stripe design with 243 brilliant-cut diamonds set into the dial and the addition of diamond-set hour markers.
Rolex have created a really special piece and McGregor having this watch is very impressive. The ‘Eye of the Tiger’ Daytona is an off-catalogue piece. Simply, this means that the watch isn’t in Rolex's standard or normal catalogue. In order to buy this watch, you must be one of Rolex’s VIP clientele or have a rich history of buying with Rolex. Therefore, McGregor having this watch symbolises his status.
One of the nicest off-catalogue and factory set models with a market value of £160,000.
Conor McGregor & Yacht-Master II, Reference 116688
When a Yacht-Master 2 is seen in someone’s collection, it is always somewhat a strange and unconventional sighting because of the model’s reputation. McGregor has been spotted wearing the Yacht-Master 2, reference 116688 in 18K yellow-gold, another yellow-gold watch in his collection.
The Yacht-Master 2’s was discontinued this year, announced at the Watches and Wonders event. Although the watch’s discontinuation was not a surprise to the horological world, it was quite a shame to see the model depart from Rolex’s catalogue because it is one of Rolex’s most complicated watches.
Consisting of a regatta time function, essentially a 10-minute chronograph, used for sailboat racing. This yellow-gold Yacht-Master 2 has a market price of £35,000.
Conor McGregor & Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronographs, 5980/1R & 5980/1AR
Two extremely impressive Patek timepieces in McGregor’s collection, the 5980/1 Patek Nautilus Chronograph- one in rose gold and the second in rose gold and stainless steel.
The 5980 range was discontinued this year which shocked the horological world as it was one of the most popular and in-demand Patek collections and due to its discontinuation, the value of the 5980 models appreciated massively. Normally, a discontinuation occurs if there is a potential upgrade on a model or there is a low demand in a retail space.
The rose gold variation is beautiful, one that was in stock here at Time4Diamonds earlier this year, after its discontinuation was announced. Currently, the market value for the 5980/1R is £145,000! Whereas the bi-metal 5980/1AR has a lower market price of £90,000.
Conor McGregor & Patek Philippe World Time 5231/J
McGregor has been spotted wearing the Patek Philippe World Time reference 5231/J in yellow gold which is a watch with a very impressive function.
It is aesthetically unconventional, with a cloisonné enamel dial that displays 24 cities such as London, Dubai and New York. This watch displays dual timezones, with the ability to tell the time in 24 different timezones
The dials are known as enamel dials which are extremely complex to craft, in fact Patek threw many away in creation proving the high levels of craftsmanship required to make this piece.
Despite its interesting complication, this World Time model was very uncommon and due to the difficulty in creating this piece, the watch was discontinued in 2022, with a current market value of £85,000.
Conor McGregor & Patek Annual Calendar Chronograph 5905/P-014
Next is the most captivating watch in the Irishman’s collection, definitely his most prideful piece and that is the Patek Annual Calendar Chronograph reference 5905/P-014.
This stunning platinum piece was released as a tribute to the Irish watch retailer Wier & Sons, celebrating their 150-year-anniversary in 2019.Therefore, McGregor owning this watch makes perfect sense. This was an extremely limited release with only 25 pieces available to the world.
To symbolise and reflect Ireland, Patek have incorporated the colour green into the watch on the dial and strap. The green dial is beautiful, with many assuming this is the same shade on the Perpetual Calendar Chronograph 5920P-014. They would have assumed wrong because this shade of green is lighter to represent the nation’s colour precisely. This platinum piece has an estimated market value of £1,000,000.
Conor McGregor & Patek Calatrava Skeleton 5180/R
On to McGregor’s last Patek piece in this article, he has been seen wearing the Calatrava skeleton in rose gold, reference 5180/R.
This beautiful skeletonised Calatrava is a very crazy piece, with the caliber 240 movement that celebrated its 40th-year-anniversary in 2017 and there are engravings on the watch that have been done completely by hand, equating to 130 hours of work!
For the first time ever, the winding rotor features an engraved logo of the Patek Philippe seal, once again demonstrating the incredible craftsmanship behind Patek Philippe.
Currently, this beautiful skeletonised piece retails for £102,740, falling incredibly under retail on the secondary market with a value of £65,000. However, McGregor probably is far from concerned with this and ultimately, this is what buying a watch should be about.
Conor McGregor & Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 26400SO
The last two watches to feature in McGregor’s watch collection are two Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore models. The first one being reference 26400SO in stainless steel and a 44mm case size
The Royal Oak Offshore collection gains mixed reception across the horological world and tends to fall below retail price on the secondary market. This Offshore model is no different as it falls below retail, with a secondary market price of £20,000.
Conor McGregor & Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 26215OR
Lastly, McGregor has an extremely bold Royal Oak Offshore model in his collection, reference 26215OR in rose gold covered in factory-set diamonds on the bezel, case and shoulders of the watch with the incorporation of a pavé diamond dial.
This is an extremely bold piece, one that symbolises a statement, something the infamous Irishman is known for. The retail price of this off-catalogue Offshore model is difficult to obtain, as is the secondary market value because this model is very rare.
