Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Lil Uzi Vert spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

In a mirror selfie that quickly circulated across watch enthusiast forums, Philadelphia rapper Lil Uzi Vert was photographed wearing what specialists are identifying as an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin Skeleton in 18k rose gold, with the case, bezel, and integrated bracelet comprehensively set in baguette-cut white diamonds. The distinctive octagonal bezel — its eight signature screws still visible beneath the gem setting — and the open-worked dial leave no doubt as to the model family. The scale and clarity of the baguette diamonds covering every surface suggest a high-end after-market or maison-level special order execution.

At its core, the Royal Oak Skeleton 41mm houses AP's in-house Calibre 3132, a self-winding movement with a 60-hour power reserve, operating at 3Hz (21,600 vph). The skeleton treatment removes all non-essential bridges and plates, exposing the gear train, barrel, and oscillating mass — here rendered in rose gold — through both the dial and caseback. The movement architecture follows the lineage Gerald Genta established with the original Royal Oak in 1972, though the skeletonization adds dozens of additional hand-finishing hours per watch.

From a collector standpoint, the fully diamond-set Royal Oak Skeleton occupies a specific intersection: it is simultaneously a horological statement and a piece of high jewellery. Baguette-set Royal Oaks in this configuration are not standard catalogue pieces; they are either AP special orders or aftermarket commissions by firms such as Juski or private jewellers. Either route demands extraordinary gem-setting precision to preserve the bracelet's articulation and the case's structural integrity — no trivial achievement when working with rigid baguette stones.

Lil Uzi Vert has established one of the most recognisable watch wardrobes in contemporary hip-hop, a collection that has included multiple AP Royal Oaks, Richard Mille pieces, and custom-set Pateks. His taste consistently skews toward maximum visual impact underpinned by serious horological credentials — a combination perfectly embodied by a skeleton Royal Oak that functions as both engineering exhibit and jewelled artefact.

On the secondary market, fully baguette-set Royal Oak Skeletons in 18k rose gold command prices in the $250,000–$350,000 range depending on total carat weight, gem quality, and provenance. The piece Uzi is wearing, estimated around $300,000, reflects a market that treats these iced-out configurations not as novelties but as legitimate alternative investments with strong demand from both collectors and cultural figures.