Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Jay-Z spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Jay-Z was recently photographed wearing what sharp-eyed observers identified as an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph in reference 25940SK — a watch that occupies rarefied air even within the already prestigious Royal Oak Offshore family. It is exactly the kind of choice that separates serious collectors from celebrity watch dressers.

The 25940SK pairs a 44mm white gold case with a black ceramic bezel and caseback, producing a two-tone contrast that the Royal Oak Offshore carries particularly well. The dial is fully skeletonized, exposing the hand-wound calibre 2884 movement beneath sapphire crystal on both sides. That movement integrates a column-wheel chronograph mechanism with a flying tourbillon at 6 o'clock and delivers an exceptional 10-day power reserve — a figure that remains impressive by any era's standard. Water resistance is rated to 100 metres, respectable for a complication of this complexity.

Audemars Piguet introduced the Royal Oak Offshore in 1993 as a sportier, larger-cased evolution of Gerald Genta's original 1972 Royal Oak. The Offshore line quickly developed its own collector following, and the tourbillon chronograph references represent its technical zenith. The 25940SK was produced in extremely small numbers, never intended as a volume piece, which means encountering one in the wild carries genuine significance. Unlike the standard Offshore chronographs that appear regularly at auction, the skeletonized tourbillon variants trade hands quietly and infrequently.

Jay-Z has maintained one of hip-hop's most consistently well-curated watch collections for over two decades, with documented examples including multiple Richard Mille references, Patek Philippe complications, and various AP Royal Oaks. The 25940SK fits his established pattern of gravitating toward technically substantial watches rather than purely decorative status pieces. It reads as a collector's choice, not a stylist's choice.

On the secondary market, the 25940SK commands a significant premium over its original retail valuation, driven by scarcity and sustained demand for complicated Royal Oak Offshore references among both watch collectors and a broader luxury audience. Pieces in excellent condition with full documentation represent some of the stronger value propositions in the pre-owned AP market.