Michael Jordan spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

During a summer gathering in Saint-Tropez, basketball legend Michael Jordan was photographed wearing one of the rarest watches ever manufactured: the Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Grande Sonnerie Carillon Supersonnerie 150th Anniversary ref. 26397PN. The platinum and 18k white gold timepiece sat on an off-white textured rubber-coated strap, its salmon-toned dial visible beneath a glareproofed double-curved sapphire crystal. This single example represents the intersection of watchmaking virtuosity and collector exclusivity, a fitting choice for one of sports' most iconic figures.

The Code 11.59 ref. 26397PN embodies Audemars Piguet's technical mastery. The case combines a platinum midcase with an 18k white gold exoskeleton—the signature architectural element of the Code 11.59 collection—measuring 41 mm in diameter. The grande sonnerie movement executes full hour and quarter-hour chiming, while the carillon function adds an additional layer of acoustic complexity. The salmon dial, paired with applied white gold hour markers and a moonphase complication, frames the movement's finishing with meticulous finishing visible through the open-worked dial structure. Water resistance is rated to 50 meters, adequate for a haute complications timepiece of this caliber.

Of the five Code 11.59 Grande Sonnerie examples released during Audemars Piguet's 150th anniversary in 2024, ref. 26397PN stands alone as a one-of-kind platinum variant. Two other examples—refs. 26397CR and 26379QS—featured sapphire dials in contrasting metal combinations: white and pink gold, and sand gold with black ceramic respectively. The remaining two references, 26397OR and one unnamed variant, showcase iridescent opal dials unique to each piece. The platinum ref. 26397PN's singularity elevates it beyond even these ultra-rare alternatives, positioning it among the most coveted watchmaking achievements of the modern era.

Michael Jordan's selection of the Code 11.59 ref. 26397PN reflects a collector's eye for horological substance over superficial prestige. The Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 collection, introduced in 2020, redefined contemporary haute horlogerie through its distinctive exoskeleton architecture and commitment to visible movement finishing. That Jordan chose the haute complications variant—a genuine grande sonnerie with carillon capability—rather than a standard-complication model underscores his appreciation for mechanical complexity and rare craftsmanship.

The secondary market for ultra-limited Audemars Piguet haute complications rarely establishes transparent pricing; ref. 26397PN's one-of-one status places it beyond conventional valuation. Audemars Piguet's retail positioning for comparable Code 11.59 Grand Complications begins around $350,000 USD, though this platinum anniversary example would command multiples of that figure should it ever surface for sale. Its presence on Jordan's wrist cements its position as an object of ultimate horological desirability.