Watch Paparazzi

Singer J Balvin spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

J Balvin has never been shy about his passion for high horology, and his latest sighting confirms the Colombian superstar continues to operate at the very top of the collector pyramid. The singer was spotted wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon, reference 26560IO — a watch that sits in rarefied air even within AP's own catalogue.

The Royal Oak Concept line was conceived as Audemars Piguet's experimental laboratory, a platform where the manufacture could push materials and movement architecture well beyond the constraints of its mainline offering. Reference 26560IO measures 44mm in diameter and pairs a grade 5 titanium case with a forged carbon caseback and bezel elements — a material combination that delivers exceptional rigidity-to-weight ratio. The calibre within is the hand-wound 2954, featuring a flying tourbillon at six o'clock and a GMT complication managed via a dedicated 24-hour disc. Power reserve stands at approximately 70 hours. The open-worked dial leaves the skeletonised movement fully exposed, framed by the unmistakable Royal Oak octagonal bezel with its eight hexagonal screws.

From a collector standpoint, the Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon occupies a unique position. It retains the Royal Oak's iconic DNA — the integrated bracelet, the tapisserie-inspired movement finishing — while abandoning any pretence of conservative design. Production numbers are limited, and the reference rarely surfaces on the secondary market. When it does, it commands serious attention. The 26560IO in particular, with its dark forged carbon and titanium palette, has proven especially sought after among younger, style-conscious collectors who want technical substance alongside visual impact.

J Balvin's watch collection is well documented — he has been spotted in Patek Philippe complications, Richard Mille tonneau cases, and AP Royal Oaks across multiple references. The Concept GMT Tourbillon, however, signals a collector who is not merely buying prestige but engaging with the technical and aesthetic ambition that separates true horological enthusiasm from brand-badge acquisition.

At a UK list price of £162,000 — roughly $205,000 at current exchange rates — the Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon ref. 26560IO is not a watch one stumbles into. On the grey market, where availability is thin, prices have tracked at or above retail, reflecting genuine scarcity rather than speculative inflation.