Aside from his collection of timepieces, the 'Thinking Out Loud' hitmaker admits to have cherished a pair of Converse sneakers that was gifted to him by his guitar idol.

• Jun 30, 2021

AceShowbiz - Pop star Ed Sheeran marks each big milestone in his personal and professional lives with a luxury watch.

The "Thinking Out Loud" hitmaker decided to build up his collection of timepieces over the years after taking inspiration from fellow musicians and watch enthusiasts, John Mayer and Eric Clapton.

"I got into watches a while ago through John Mayer, actually, weirdly," Ed shared on BBC Radio 2.

"He's always been someone I've always looked up to and he also looks up to Eric Clapton, who is also a collector of watches, I guess it's a knock-on effect through generations."

Ed is hesitant to put a number on how many of the luxury accessories he now owns, quipping, "Uh, we shouldn't go into that. Too many!"

"It's something I started getting for milestones in my life when something happened," he explained. "[Like when a] single does well or wedding, birthday [sic]."

Admitting the purchase has to be earned, the singer, who shares 10-month-old daughter Lyra with his wife, Cherry Seaborn, added, "It's not just a random purchase."

His love of well-made watches isn't the only link Ed has to Clapton - he also owns a pair of Converse sneakers gifted to him by his guitar idol.

"He gave me a pair of shoes once that his friend had made and they are my most treasured possession," the Brit said. "I wear them for special occasions, they are just a pair of Converse. But they are probably my treasured possession."

Sharing the story behind the gift, Ed continued, "He's very into style and this was the first time I'd met him... and we went out for dinner near his house in London and we went back to his house and he gave me a guitar and a pair of shoes.

"I think his friend is a designer, so he was like, 'My friend made these shoes', but it was one of the greatest evenings of my life - it was great."