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Basketball player Anthony Davis spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Anthony Davis was recently photographed wearing one of Audemars Piguet's most visually arresting limited editions: the Royal Oak Chronograph in 18KT white gold with a frosted case finish and a rich purple dial, reference 26331BC. The sighting is notable not just for the celebrity wrist it appears on, but for the genuine scarcity of the watch itself — only 200 examples were produced.

The ref. 26331BC belongs to the Royal Oak Chronograph family that traces its roots directly to Gérald Genta's iconic 1972 octagonal-bezel design. The 41mm white gold case is treated with the Florentine finish developed in collaboration with Carolina Bucci, a technique involving thousands of tiny hammer blows applied to the raw gold surface, creating a micro-textured sparkle that differs entirely from conventional polishing or brushing. The result is a case that appears to shimmer rather than reflect. Inside runs Audemars Piguet's calibre 2385, a column-wheel integrated chronograph movement with a 40-hour power reserve, oscillating at 21,600 vph — a movement that has earned respect for its lateral clutch architecture and clean finishing.

From a collector standpoint, the 26331BC occupies a compelling niche. Frosted Gold Royal Oaks have developed a dedicated following since AP first introduced the Bucci collaboration in 2016. The combination of white gold, the frosted treatment, and the purple dial — purple being one of the less common dial colorways in AP's Royal Oak palette — makes this reference particularly difficult to source. The 200-piece limitation ensures secondary market supply remains tight.

Davis, who plays center and power forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, has long demonstrated a preference for high-complication and limited-edition timepieces. Wearing the 26331BC suggests a collector's sensibility: this is not a watch easily found at retail and requires knowing where to look.

On the market, the official UK list price sits at £56,000. On the grey market, strong collector demand for Frosted Gold Royal Oak variants pushes prices meaningfully above retail, and the purple dial configuration commands a particular premium among enthusiasts chasing dial color rarity.