Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Dave spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

UK rapper, songwriter, and actor Dave — full name David Orobosa Omoregie — was recently photographed wearing a stainless steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak reference 15500ST on a blue dial. The sighting places the South London artist firmly in a long tradition of culturally significant figures gravitating toward Gerald Genta's most enduring design.

The Royal Oak 15500ST is the current-generation 41mm Royal Oak, introduced by Audemars Piguet in 2019 to succeed the 15400ST. The case and integrated bracelet are crafted from stainless steel and finished with the house's signature combination of brushed and polished surfaces — a technique that remains one of the most labour-intensive in the industry. The blue 'Grande Tapisserie' dial is characterised by its precisely machined square-hobnail pattern, applied hour markers, and contrasting blue sub-registers. Powering the watch is the in-house calibre 4302, an automatic movement beating at 3.35Hz with a 60-hour power reserve — an upgrade over its predecessor's 4302 in both efficiency and finishing quality.

From a collector perspective, the 15500ST represents a meaningful evolution. The new calibre offers improved anglage and finishing visible through the exhibition caseback, and the dial's tapisserie pattern was re-engineered to sit more crisply defined than on earlier references. The blue dial version, alongside the grey, consistently commands premiums on the secondary market, reflecting sustained demand that well outpaces supply through authorised dealers.

Dave's choice of the Royal Oak 15500ST in blue is consistent with his public profile — considered, understated by rap-world standards, yet unmistakably informed. Since 'Psychodrama' in 2019 and his expanding presence in acting, Dave has cultivated a reputation for artistic seriousness that aligns naturally with a watch built on craft rather than flash. The Royal Oak's original 1972 positioning as a luxury sports watch for a culturally discerning audience still resonates today.

At UK list price of £18,700, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15500ST is officially attainable — but practically, authorised dealer waitlists make grey-market acquisition the realistic route for most buyers, where the blue dial configuration typically trades significantly above retail.