Watch Paparazzi

Boxer Anthony Joshua spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Westminster Abbey during the Commonwealth Service is not a room that forgives sartorial missteps, and Anthony Joshua chose his wrist carefully. The two-time unified heavyweight world champion was spotted wearing an Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 in 18kt pink gold, reference 15210OR — a watch that reads with quiet authority in formal surroundings without sacrificing a collector's edge.

Launched at SIHH 2019 amid considerable debate, the Code 11.59 represented Audemars Piguet's first ground-up case design in many years. The 41mm case construction is architecturally intricate: an octagonal middle case sits between a round bezel and round caseback, creating visual depth through layered geometry rather than surface decoration. The reference 15210OR pairs this architecture with an 18kt pink gold case and a textured white lacquer dial, keeping the presentation warm but legible. Inside beats calibre 4302, an in-house self-winding movement with a 70-hour power reserve, running at 3Hz and visible through a sapphire exhibition caseback.

The Code 11.59 had a famously rocky critical reception at launch — enthusiasts questioned whether it lacked the design purity of the Royal Oak. That conversation has since matured considerably. As collectors have lived with the reference and Audemars Piguet has expanded the line with complications including perpetual calendar and tourbillon variants, the 15210OR three-hander has gained respect as the accessible, daily-wear entry point into a collection that now stands on its own merits.

Joshua has demonstrated a consistent preference for established Swiss manufactures over flashier independent brands, and the Code 11.59 fits that profile. Its presence at a Commonwealth Service — attended by senior royals and heads of government — reinforces that the watch is more than capable of crossing into genuinely formal territory, something not every sports watch can claim.

At a UK list price of approximately £19,000, the 15210OR sits at the entry tier of the Code 11.59 range. Grey market demand has stabilised following the initial post-launch volatility, with pink gold examples typically trading near or slightly below retail — making this one of the more accessible propositions in Audemars Piguet's current catalogue for buyers who actually want to wear one.