Singer J Balvin spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

At the Dior Spring/Summer 2023 runway presentation, Colombian reggaeton superstar J Balvin arrived in a colorful floral oversized tee, pale blue trousers, and — on his wrist — one of the most coveted and expensive Royal Oaks in existence: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked 'Rainbow' in 18k Frosted Rose Gold, a piece that retails north of $800,000 USD and rarely surfaces outside of AP's most privileged client relationships.

The watch is anchored by Calibre 3132, a manually skeletonized movement featuring a double balance wheel — two oscillators linked by a differential gear — which provides superior rate stability compared to a single regulating organ. Visible through the fully openworked dial, the movement architecture is deliberately theatrical: bridges, gears, and the twin balance wheels are all exposed, finished to AP's exacting standards with alternating anglage, polished bevels, and circular graining. The case and integrated bracelet are executed in 18k pink gold treated with the frosted finish, a technique developed with Florentine goldsmith Carolina Bucci that creates a luminous, sand-like texture across every surface.

The 'Rainbow' designation refers to the bezel, which is set with a full spectrum of baguette-cut colored gemstones — rubies, sapphires, emeralds, amethysts, citrines, and more — arranged in a seamless chromatic progression around the octagonal frame. This bezel construction alone represents hundreds of hours of gem-setting work, as each stone must be precisely calibrated in height and color saturation to achieve the gradient effect. The combination of frosted gold, openworked movement, and rainbow gem setting places this reference firmly at the intersection of haute horlogerie and high jewelry.

J Balvin has built one of the most recognizable watch collections in Latin music, frequently photographed in AP Royal Oaks, Patek Philippe Nautiluses, and Richard Mille pieces. His affinity for chromatic, statement-level watches aligns naturally with a piece like this — the rainbow bezel echoes his broader aesthetic identity as an artist who consistently plays with color across fashion, music videos, and collaborations.

On the secondary market, frosted gold Royal Oak Rainbow references have commanded significant premiums above their already substantial retail prices, with comparable pieces trading between $900,000 and well over $1,000,000 USD at major auction houses. Production is extremely limited, and AP allocates these references only to top-tier clients, making any public sighting a genuine horological event.