Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Stormzy spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Stormzy, the Croydon-born rapper widely credited with reshaping the profile of British grime and hip-hop on the global stage, was recently spotted wearing an Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 Selfwinding Chronograph in 18K white gold, reference 26393BC, fitted on a blue leather strap — a combination that reads as quietly assured rather than ostentatious.

The Code 11.59 collection launched at SIHH 2019 to a polarising reception, but time and closer inspection have cemented its standing. The reference 26393BC sits at the technical apex of the line, powered by the proprietary Calibre 4401 — a column-wheel flyback chronograph movement with a vertical clutch, 70-hour power reserve, and a 22K gold rotor. At 41mm in white gold with a sapphire crystal caseback revealing the movement in full, the watch represents a genuinely complex piece of independent manufacture rather than a dressed-up exercise in branding.

From a collector standpoint, the Code 11.59 Chronograph has undergone a notable rehabilitation. Early criticism focused on the unconventional case architecture — a double-curved sapphire crystal, octagonal middle case, and circular caseback — but collectors who looked past the aesthetics recognised the Calibre 4401 as one of AP's most accomplished modern movements. White gold references, particularly those with contrasting strap pairings, have found a committed secondary-market audience.

Stormzy has demonstrated a consistent and discerning approach to watches over the years, gravitating toward pieces with genuine mechanical substance rather than pure status signalling. The choice of the 26393BC — a model that rewards close inspection over immediate recognition — is consistent with that sensibility. It is the kind of watch a collector wears, not simply a trophy piece.

At a UK list price of £41,300, the Code 11.59 Selfwinding Chronograph in 18K white gold occupies the upper tier of AP's non-Royal Oak catalogue. On the grey market, demand for white gold chronograph references has remained steady, with prices tracking close to or slightly above retail — a sign that the collection's collector credibility has solidified considerably since its contentious debut.