Rapper SHIVA spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Italian rapper SHIVA — born Andrea Arrigoni and one of the most streamed artists in the contemporary Italian hip-hop scene — was recently photographed wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ref. 26170ST, a two-tone, diamond-laden piece that makes an unambiguous statement about where watchmaking and rap culture converge.

The ref. 26170ST measures 42mm in stainless steel and rose gold, and the configuration on SHIVA's wrist goes well beyond a standard sports watch. The bezel is fully set with diamonds, the dial carries a semi-set diamond treatment, and the integrated bracelet combines brushed stainless steel and polished rose gold links with additional diamond-set elements. Powering the piece is the calibre 3126/3840 — a self-winding movement with a column-wheel chronograph mechanism, 40-hour power reserve, and a 21,600vph frequency. The movement has long been appreciated for its reliability and its architectural integration with the Royal Oak Offshore's case dimensions.

The Royal Oak Offshore line was born in 1993 as Emmanuel Gueit's deliberately oversized interpretation of Gerald Genta's 1972 Royal Oak. The Offshore was controversial at launch, internally nicknamed "The Beast," but it became the reference point for luxury sports-chrono watches and drew an immediate following among athletes and musicians. The 26170ST represents the jewellery-set evolution of that DNA — retaining the technical heart while shifting the aesthetic register toward high jewellery.

For collectors, diamond-set Offshore references occupy a specific and sometimes divisive corner of the market. Purists tend to prefer undressed stainless configurations, but the 26170ST has found a loyal following among buyers who want a certified chronograph with genuine stone-setting craft. The combination of rose gold and steel in a two-tone configuration is also notably harder to source than single-metal variants, reinforcing its appeal as a secondary-market piece.

SHIVA's choice reflects a broader trend among European rap artists who gravitate toward jewelled AP Offshore references as a deliberate upgrade from standard luxury sports watches — visible enough to register on camera, technically credible enough to satisfy watch-literate audiences. The ref. 26170ST trades at approximately $64,000 on the grey market, a premium consistent with its diamond inventory and two-tone construction.