Watch Paparazzi

Mixed martial artist Conor McGregor spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Conor McGregor, the former UFC champion and mixed martial artist, was photographed on March 10, 2025, wearing a Patek Philippe Ellipse 3848/19 in 18k yellow gold. The timepiece, visible on his wrist, exemplifies understated luxury—a departure from the bolder sports watches frequently associated with combat athletes. The sighting underscores McGregor's refined approach to horological collecting and his appreciation for dress watches rooted in haute horlogerie tradition.

The Patek Philippe Ellipse 3848/19 features Calibre 23-300, a self-winding automatic movement with 21,600 vibrations per hour and approximately 42 hours of power reserve. The 18k yellow gold elliptical case measures 35.2mm in length and 30.5mm in width—proportions that deliberately reject the symmetry of circular cases. The white dial presents applied gold hour indices and gold dauphine hands, while a sapphire crystal protects the dial from 20 meters of water resistance. The watch rides on an 18k yellow gold integrated bracelet with a fold-over clasp, a hallmark of Patek Philippe's vintage design language.

Introduced in 1968, the Ellipse collection represented Patek Philippe's response to minimalist modernism in watchmaking. The 3848/19 variant emerged during the 1990s, combining the iconic elliptical case geometry with contemporary automatic calibres. Unlike the earlier manual-wind references, this automatic version broadened accessibility while maintaining the design's distinctive proportional identity. Yellow gold variants remain less common than white gold or stainless steel editions, making 3848/19 examples in this material increasingly sought among collectors focused on vintage Patek Philippe dress watches.

McGregor's choice reflects a broader pattern among athletes and public figures gravitating toward dress watches as status symbols distinct from sports chronographs. The Ellipse 3848/19's restrained aesthetic and precious metal construction signal refined taste—qualities McGregor has consistently emphasized in his public presentation beyond the octagon. The watch's technical competence, anchored in Patek Philippe's reputation for reliability, combines with its historical significance as a design statement from the watchmaker's golden era.

Retail pricing for an 18k yellow gold Ellipse 3848/19 typically ranges from $35,000 to $42,000 on the grey market, contingent on condition and bracelet completeness. Vintage and pre-owned examples command premiums relative to stainless steel iterations. The automatic Ellipse remains less frequently listed than earlier manual-wind references, creating modest scarcity that sustains collector demand and resale value stability.