Watch Paparazzi

Singer Pharrell William spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

A recently surfaced photograph dating back more than two decades shows Pharrell Williams — then already ascending as one of pop and hip-hop's most influential producers — on the wrist with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar reference 25636PT. Long before celebrity watch culture became a social media industry of its own, Pharrell was already reaching for one of AP's most technically demanding references.

The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar 25636PT is built around the calibre 2120/2802, a movement of exceptional pedigree. It combines the ultra-thin automatic base calibre 2120 — just 2.45mm thick — with the 2802 perpetual calendar module, resulting in a total movement height of 4.46mm. The complication accounts for months, date, day, leap year cycle, and moonphase, all without requiring manual correction until the year 2100. The platinum case follows the Royal Oak's signature Gerald Genta-designed octagonal bezel with integrated bracelet, giving the 36.5mm case a density and presence that gold simply cannot replicate.

What separates this particular example from standard 25636 references is the combination of two rare attributes: the platinum case-and-bracelet construction and the Mark II dial configuration, in which the perpetual calendar subdials are rendered in white rather than the standard dark blue. Add a full skeleton treatment that opens the dial to reveal the decorated movement bridges beneath, and you have a variant that serious collectors pursue with considerable patience and budget.

Pharrell has consistently demonstrated that his watch collection operates well outside the mainstream. From heavily jewelled custom pieces to historically significant complications, his choices tend toward the technically or aesthetically extreme. The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar 25636PT sits firmly in that territory — a watch that rewards knowledge rather than simply demanding attention.

On the secondary market, platinum-cased Royal Oak perpetual calendar references from this era command a significant premium over their yellow or white gold counterparts, driven by rarity and the inherent prestige of the metal. Examples in strong condition with original bracelet and box-and-papers have traded well into six figures at auction, with the Mark II skeleton dial configuration adding further collector premium to an already scarce reference.