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Basketball player LeBron James spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

LeBron James, currently one of the NBA's most visible watch collectors, was recently photographed alongside rapper and entrepreneur Drake — a pairing that routinely generates headlines — with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked reference 15407ST locked firmly on his wrist. The sighting is another reminder that James treats his watch collection with the same competitive seriousness he applies to basketball.

The Royal Oak 15407ST is built around the in-house calibre 3132, a manually wound openworked movement that incorporates Audemars Piguet's double balance wheel system — two coupled oscillators that counteract the distorting effects of positional variation and shock, producing a more consistent rate across wearing conditions. The movement operates at 21,600 vph, offers 40 hours of power reserve, and is finished to a standard rarely seen at this price point, with bevelled bridges, perlage, and côtes de Genève all visible through the skeletonised dial. The 41mm stainless steel case retains the iconic Gerald Genta-designed octagonal bezel with eight hexagonal screws, tapering integrated bracelet, and the architectural language that has defined the Royal Oak since its 1972 debut.

The openworked Royal Oak occupies a distinct collector tier. Where the standard 15400 and its successor 15500 serve as entry points into the Royal Oak ecosystem, the 15407 demands genuine horological curiosity — the movement is the exhibition. It attracts buyers who want the iconic silhouette alongside a demonstrable technical statement, and its relatively controlled production volumes have kept secondary market demand consistently strong.

James has long been documented wearing high-complication timepieces — Patek Philippe, Richard Mille, and AP feature regularly in his rotation — and the 15407ST fits the pattern: recognisable enough for a crowd, complex enough for a collector. Wearing it in Drake's company amplifies its cultural visibility across both sports and music audiences.

On the market, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked 15407ST lists at $74,800 USD, but grey market values have climbed substantially, with the stainless steel reference now trading at approximately $169,000 — a premium of well over 100 percent above retail. Demand for stainless steel Royal Oaks shows no meaningful signs of cooling.