Watch Paparazzi

Singer Usher spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Usher has long cultivated a reputation as a genuine watch collector rather than a celebrity simply handed pieces for appearances, and a recent sighting confirms that taste runs deep. The singer was photographed wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in stainless steel, reference 25829ST — a watch that sits at the intersection of haute horlogerie and sports-watch design in a way very few references manage.

The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 25829ST is built around a 39mm stainless steel case — modest by contemporary standards but perfectly proportioned — housing the celebrated Audemars Piguet calibre 2120/2800. This ultra-thin automatic movement, measuring just 2.75mm in height, traces its perpetual calendar module to development work done decades ago and remains a benchmark for integrated complication architecture. The dial presents date, day, month, four-digit year, and a moon phase display across its signature Grande Tapisserie surface, with a blue or dark dial variant that complements the steel case superbly. Power reserve sits at approximately 40 hours.

From a collector standpoint, the 25829ST occupies a particularly interesting position. Stainless steel perpetual calendars from Audemars Piguet have historically been produced in far smaller numbers than gold variants, making them disproportionately desirable on the secondary market. The reference bridges the gap between earlier 25654ST examples and the current generation 26574ST, giving it strong transitional collector appeal — bought by people who understand the lineage rather than those chasing the latest catalogue entry.

Usher's connection to fine watchmaking goes beyond the occasional red-carpet loan. The Atlanta-born entertainer has been documented wearing everything from Patek Philippe complications to Richard Mille sports pieces, but sightings of serious stainless steel complications like this AP suggest a collector who values technical substance alongside aesthetics. The 25829ST is precisely the kind of watch that rewards that approach.

At a UK list price of approximately £68,000, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 25829ST already represents significant horological investment. On the grey market, demand for stainless steel AP perpetual calendars consistently pushes prices above retail, with well-documented examples trading at meaningful premiums. For anyone tracking both Usher's wrist game and the broader AP market, this sighting is worth noting.