Clapton, 77, is a three-time inductee of the rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Fame and has an estimated net worth of US$450 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He’s kept a relatively low profile throughout his career, but the known watch aficionado boasts a collection most museums would envy.

The Crazy Doc formerly in the Tears in Heaven singer’s possession was previously sold at auction in 2003. The 18 karat yellow gold 6239 timepiece is thought to be the only one of its kind with a pulsation scale and is expected to fetch up to US$1.6 million. The pulsation scale was first introduced in the 1930s, when doctors would start the chronograph and use it to count the beats of a patient’s heart.

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2. Rolex Paul Newman 6241 Daytona

Manufactured between 1966 and 1969, this Rolex Paul Newman 6241 – known as The John Player Special – is thought to be one of the rarest Daytonas in existence, as it’s thought that just 300 yellow gold iterations of the timepiece were manufactured.

The black and gold dial is a nod to John Player – the cigarette maker and former Formula One Lotus team sponsor – and the graphics splashed over the racing car. It is estimated to fetch up to US$1.5 million.

3. Patek Philippe 1503 stainless steel

Featuring Breguet numerals and a glossy black dial, this is a rare iteration of the 1503 watch, with just one other known timepiece with the same configuration.

But its provenance is what renders it truly unique. Previously owned by Holocaust survivor and celebrated human rights advocate Simon Wiesenthal, it has not been seen in public since it was first sold by the Wiesenethal family in 2007.

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4. Audemars Piguet 1532 chronograph

Manufactured in 1941, this Audemars Piguet 1532 is one of just 300 chronographs made between 1930 and 1962, and is one of just two of its kind ever created.

Larger than most, the 1532 chronograph clocks in at 36mm and features a pink gold bezel. The watch also has a 4/5 indication – a typical feature of the time at the request of the maison’s founder, Jacques Louis Audemars, who was himself an avid football fan and used the indication to notify himself of half-time.

5. Patek Philippe yellow gold 3448

With an estimated value of up to US$324,000, this likely unpolished yellow gold perpetual calendar wristwatch with moonphases was first launched in 1962. The design was decommissioned 20 years later, making it one of just 586 pieces in existence.

With no visible signs of ageing, the watch is in near-perfect condition, and expected to fetch up to US$324 million.

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