Basketball player Michael Jordan spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Courtside at an NBA game, Michael Jordan — six-time champion and arguably the most influential athlete in sports history — was photographed wearing an Audemars Piguet Millenary. While Jordan's wrist has hosted a well-documented rotation of AP references over the years, the Millenary is a notably considered choice, signalling a collector sensibility that goes beyond trophy pieces.

The Audemars Piguet Millenary is immediately recognisable by its oval case — approximately 47mm x 42mm in its men's configuration — and its signature off-centre movement display, which pushes the time display toward one side of the dial to showcase the decorated calibre beneath. From the image, the case appears to be in rose gold, paired with a dark dial and what reads as a matching integrated bracelet. The watch on Jordan's wrist shows the characteristic wide lugs and cushioned case profile consistent with the Millenary men's line from the mid-2000s production era.

The Millenary has always occupied an interesting position in the Audemars Piguet catalogue. Launched in 1995 as a deliberate counterpoint to the Royal Oak, it attracted buyers who wanted AP's manufacture credentials and finishing quality without the ubiquitous octagonal bezel. Its calibre 3120 or 3129 movements — depending on reference — offer a 60-hour power reserve with a 22-carat gold rotor, and the skeletonised or open-worked versions expose the full poetry of the mechanism. The result is a watch that rewards close inspection rather than across-the-room recognition.

For Jordan, the choice is consistent with an evolved collector's eye. His AP collection reportedly includes multiple Royal Oak references, but reaching for the Millenary suggests appreciation for the less-travelled path within the manufactory's lineup. It is the kind of watch that serious collectors notice precisely because it is not the obvious flex.

On the secondary market, rose gold Millenary references in good condition command strong premiums relative to their original retail positioning. The reference remains below Royal Oak Offshore values, making it one of the more accessible entry points into rose gold AP ownership — though 'accessible' is relative when discussing a solid 18k gold complicated timepiece.