Basketball player Anthony Davis spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers power forward and NBA champion, was recently photographed stepping out wearing one of the most exclusive pieces in the entire Audemars Piguet catalogue: the Royal Oak Extra-Thin Tourbillon in black ceramic. The sighting, captured in a bubble-era setting with Davis masked and dressed in a relaxed streetwear ensemble, underscores how elite athletes have made ultra-complicated dress watches part of their everyday rotation.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin Tourbillon Black Ceramic — reference 26522CE.OO.1225CE.01 — was unveiled at SIHH 2019 as a limited edition of just 100 numbered pieces worldwide. The 41mm case and integrated bracelet are crafted entirely from black ceramic, a material that demands extensive machining expertise to achieve the signature alternating brushed and polished surfaces that define the Royal Oak's aesthetic. At 8.7mm thin, it achieves an extraordinary slenderness for a watch housing a flying tourbillon.

Powering the piece is AP's manual-winding Calibre 2924, a movement beating at 21,600 vph with a 70-hour power reserve. The open-worked tourbillon cage sits at 6 o'clock on a dial featuring the 'tapisserie évolutive' pattern — a radial, fan-like evolution of the classic grande tapisserie that creates a three-dimensional sunburst effect entirely unique to this reference. Silver-toned applied hour markers and hands provide the only contrast against the all-black composition.

For collectors, the Royal Oak Extra-Thin Tourbillon in ceramic occupies rare territory: it combines the horological prestige of a flying tourbillon with a production run so small that most buyers never get the opportunity. Ceramic Royal Oaks have historically commanded strong secondary market premiums, and the 100-piece ceiling on this reference makes grey-market availability extremely limited.

Davis, repped by Klutch Sports — as his face mask prominently advertised — has cultivated a serious watch collection befitting his status as one of the NBA's highest-paid players. Pairing a $187,500 ceramic tourbillon with shorts and a graphic tee is precisely the kind of effortless flex that defines contemporary athlete watch culture. The retail price of $187,500 has only appreciated on the secondary market given its scarcity.