Watch Paparazzi

Singer Usher spotted wearing Purnell

Usher was photographed stepping out in what appears to be a casual streetwear ensemble — a tropical-print sweatshirt, layered chains, and white shorts — but his wrist told a very different story. Strapped on is one of the rarest mechanical timepieces produced in the last decade: the Purnell Escape II in forged carbon with Neon Green accents, a watch limited to just three pieces worldwide.

Purnell, the Swiss independent manufacture founded by Eric Loth and watchmaker Paul Clemence, built its entire identity around the Escape II's defining technical achievement: a triple-axis tourbillon that rotates on its three axes in 8, 30, and 60 seconds respectively — making it the fastest certified triple-axis tourbillon movement in existence. The caliber PUR 300 is entirely in-house, hand-assembled, and visible in its full skeleton glory through the open-worked dial. The forged carbon case, machined from compressed carbon fiber, offers exceptional rigidity at a fraction of titanium's weight, while the neon green bridges framing the dual tourbillon carriages create a visual tension that is unmistakably modern. The black rubber strap with carbon-textured keeper completes the monochromatic-meets-electric aesthetic.

From a collector standpoint, the Escape II Neon Green occupies genuinely rarefied territory. With only three examples produced, provenance and allocation are everything. Unlike Richard Mille's larger production runs or even many haute horlogerie independents who work in editions of 20–50, Purnell's three-piece limitation places this reference closer to bespoke commission territory. The triple-axis tourbillon complication alone demands hundreds of hours of movement assembly, and the forged carbon case requires precision CNC tooling that few manufacturers can execute to this tolerance.

Usher has long demonstrated a serious engagement with high-complications beyond the typical celebrity reach of Rolex or Audemars Piguet. Previous sightings have included Richard Mille references and other independent marques, but the Purnell Escape II Neon Green represents a meaningful step further — into a category where watchmaking credibility, rather than brand recognition, is the primary currency.

At a UK list price of approximately £340,000 (roughly $425,000 USD at prevailing rates), the Escape II Neon Green is not a purchase driven by secondary market arbitrage — grey market activity for three-piece editions is essentially non-existent as transactions are near-entirely private. This is a watch acquired through relationship, not retail availability. Its appearance on Usher's wrist is as much a statement about access as it is about taste.