Only Luke Combs could roll into the CMAs without taking home a single award and still walk out as the most talked-about artist in the room. All he had to do was show up wearing a piece of American music history.
While most fans and photographers were glued to the red carpet watching who wore what, Combs made his own kind of statement by slipping on a vintage 1969 Omega wristwatch. This was not just a cool accessory. It was the very watch that Johnny Cash gave to Elvis Presley for his birthday.
Engraved on the back are the words “To E From J Jan. 8 1969,” and that says everything you need to know. This was a gift from the Man in Black to the King of Rock and Roll. And now it sits on the wrist of country music’s current torchbearer. That is something powerful.
A well-known watch collector and Instagram horology expert who goes by @niccoloy spotted the timepiece and revealed that Luke Combs purchased it at an auction in July. The price tag reportedly came in at around $103,000. It is safe to say this might be one of the coolest items in any country star’s personal collection.
Combs has made it clear over the years that he is not just casually into watches. He once even swapped pieces with Luke Bryan just for the fun of it. But this? This is something else entirely. This is a watch that carries decades of musical heritage and camaraderie between two of the most influential figures in American music.
Johnny and Elvis were pioneers who helped shape not just country or rock but the very idea of modern music. They both started out on Sun Records. They shared stages and shaped history. That kind of bond is rare. So for Combs to wear that same watch to the CMAs is not just a style move. It is a tribute.
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The watch’s journey from Presley’s wrist to Combs’ is almost as legendary as the men who wore it. After Elvis received the gift, he later passed it on to his bodyguard, Red West, in 1972. Eventually, the watch landed in a museum in the United Kingdom before being sold at auction. It came with authentication documents and a letter confirming its history.
Even though Combs did not win an award that night, he was nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Single of the Year for “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma”, his performance of “Back in the Saddle” still left a lasting impact. And if you looked close enough during that high-energy set, you could see that vintage Omega catching the stage lights.
This was not just another night at the CMAs. It was a full-circle moment where past and present met in a quiet but deeply meaningful way. Country music has always been about stories and legacy. That watch carries both.
Johnny Cash gave it to Elvis. Elvis passed it on. Now Luke Combs wears it, not as a gimmick or flex, but as a way to honor the icons who paved the road before him. And the fact that it went unnoticed by most until later just proves it was never about the spotlight.
It was about the history ticking away on his wrist.
