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Musician DJ Khaled spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

DJ Khaled was recently spotted wearing one of Audemars Piguet's most technically and aesthetically distinctive Royal Oak variants — the 18K white gold frosted Royal Oak Self-Winding Chronograph, reference 26240BC. The sighting is entirely consistent with Khaled's well-documented appetite for statement-level horology, but this particular reference deserves attention well beyond its celebrity endorsement.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 26240BC centers on the caliber 4401, a manufacture flyback chronograph movement that represents a genuine leap forward from the older caliber 2385. The 4401 operates at 4Hz, offers a 70-hour power reserve, and features a column-wheel and horizontal clutch — the hallmarks of a serious chronograph architecture. The movement is visible through the sapphire caseback, decorated to AP's exacting finishing standards. The case measures 41mm in diameter, a commanding but wearable size for the iconic Gerald Genta–designed octagonal bezel.

What separates the 26240BC from other Royal Oak Chronographs is the frosted gold treatment applied to its case and bracelet. Audemars Piguet introduced this technique in collaboration with Carolina Bucci in 2016, originally on a limited ladies' model before expanding it across the collection. A diamond-tipped tool creates thousands of microscopic indentations across the gold surface, producing a sparkling, almost granular texture that reads entirely differently from the standard alternating polished and brushed Royal Oak finishing. On white gold, the effect is particularly glacial and high-contrast.

In collector circles, the 26240 generation is considered the definitive modern Royal Oak Chronograph, correcting ergonomic criticisms of the outgoing 26320 and integrating the superior 4401 movement. The frosted white gold configuration 26240BC occupies the upper tier of the reference family — rarer than steel variants and visually arresting in a way that more restrained configurations are not. Demand among both enthusiasts and high-profile buyers has been consistent since its introduction.

At a list price of $81,500 USD, the 26240BC is already a significant acquisition. The current grey market valuation of approximately $155,000 — nearly double retail — reflects genuine scarcity and sustained collector demand rather than speculative inflation alone. For DJ Khaled, a collector whose wrist game regularly features six and seven-figure timepieces, the 26240BC is a characteristically sharp choice: technically serious, visually unmistakable, and appreciating in value.