Musician DJ Khaled spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

DJ Khaled has built one of the most recognizable watch collections in the entertainment industry, and his latest sighting does nothing to diminish that reputation. The Miami-based producer and label executive was spotted on the wrist with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph in black ceramic, reference 26240CE — a piece that sits at the intersection of milestone horology and serious collector demand.

The 26240CE was unveiled in 2022 as part of Audemars Piguet's landmark 50th Anniversary Royal Oak collection, a moment the brand used to redefine the entire Royal Oak chronograph lineage. The case measures 41mm in black ceramic — a material that demands significantly more complex machining than steel or precious metal, given ceramic's extreme hardness and brittleness. The integrated bracelet, one of the Royal Oak's most architecturally defining features, is executed in the same material, giving the piece a monolithic, stealthy presence on the wrist. The dial follows the iconic Grande Tapisserie pattern, rendered here in a dark tone that absorbs light rather than reflecting it.

Powering the 26240CE is Calibre 4401, a manufacture flyback chronograph movement developed entirely in-house by AP. The 4401 operates at 4Hz, offers approximately 70 hours of power reserve, and features column-wheel control with a vertical clutch — specifications that place it firmly in the upper tier of in-house chronograph movements. Its development represented a major commitment by AP to eliminate reliance on external ébauches for the Royal Oak chronograph.

For collectors, the ceramic Royal Oak Chronograph represents a convergence of anniversary significance and material rarity. Ceramic AP Royal Oaks have historically commanded strong premiums due to production complexity, and the 50th Anniversary context amplifies that further. The 26240CE is not a piece that sits long in grey-market inventories.

On the secondary market, the 26240CE has climbed well above its $74,600 list price, with current valuations tracking around $205,000 — a premium that reflects both genuine demand and constrained supply. For Khaled, whose AP collection reportedly spans multiple Royal Oak variations, this ceramic chronograph reads less as a flex and more as a studied acquisition.