Watch Paparazzi

Singer Elton John spotted wearing Romain Jerome

Elton John, one of the most visually extravagant performers in pop history, was recently spotted wearing the Romain Jerome Día de los Muertos, reference RJ.T.AU.FM.001.01 — a watch limited to just 25 examples globally. For a man who once performed in platform boots the height of a small child, the choice is entirely logical.

The Romain Jerome Día de los Muertos Ref. RJ.T.AU.FM.001.01 is built around a fully sculpted skull case crafted in gold, with the Mexican Day of the Dead festival serving as its artistic foundation. The dial architecture dissolves almost entirely into the skull form itself, with hours and minutes indicated through skeletonized hands that emerge from the cranial cavity. Romain Jerome collaborated with specialist artisans to achieve the hand-finished surface detailing — floral motifs and decorative enamel work referencing traditional Día de los Muertos iconography are integrated into the case and dial. The movement within is a mechanical caliber with manual winding, appropriate for a piece where the case design commands absolute attention.

Romain Jerome built its reputation on concept-driven, highly limited timepieces — most famously its Titanic-DNA line incorporating steel salvaged from the wreck — and the Día de los Muertos sits firmly in that tradition. At an edition size of 25, the reference RJ.T.AU.FM.001.01 occupies a serious collector niche: too limited for casual acquisition, substantial enough in construction to reward close examination. It is a watch that demands an owner with conviction.

Elton John has long maintained an appetite for extraordinary objects — his art collection, his wardrobe, and his stage production all reflect a consistent philosophy that more is not enough. A skull watch limited to 25 pieces, dripping in cultural symbolism and precious metal, maps precisely onto that sensibility. He is not wearing it ironically.

With a UK list price of approximately £12,000, the Romain Jerome Día de los Muertos Ref. RJ.T.AU.FM.001.01 sits at a price point that reflects its artisanal production and extreme scarcity. Grey market activity on pieces this limited is thin by definition — when 25 examples exist, transactions are quiet and private. Expect any example that surfaces to command a premium over retail.