Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Quavo spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Quavious Keyate Marshall — better known as Quavo — was photographed wearing what is arguably one of the most labor-intensive custom Royal Oaks currently circulating in celebrity circles: an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26331ST in 18k pink gold, subjected to a full aftermarket baguette diamond set treatment that the trade has come to call the "Chandelier" finish. The price tag reportedly stands at $235,000.

The foundation of the piece is the Royal Oak Chronograph 41mm in 18k pink gold — a serious watch in its own right. Reference 26331ST is powered by the Audemars Piguet calibre 2385, a column-wheel integrated chronograph movement beating at 21,600 vph with a 40-hour power reserve. The movement features a lateral clutch and offers hours, minutes, small seconds, date, and flyback-capable chronograph functions. The integrated bracelet construction, a hallmark of Gerald Genta's 1972 Royal Oak design, is preserved even through the afterset process — itself no small engineering feat.

The "Chandelier" designation refers to a full aftermarket diamond setting in which every available surface — bezel, case, lugs, bracelet links, dial — is covered in precisely matched baguette-cut diamonds. With over 70 carats of stones applied, the setter must disassemble, stone-set, and reassemble components without compromising the watch's mechanical integrity or water resistance. Reputable afterset houses such as Franck, Alex and John or Avianne are typically behind commissions of this scale and quality. The result is a piece that the original manufacturer does not endorse, but which commands its own collector and cultural market.

Quavo has long demonstrated a sophisticated appetite for high-horology, with Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille appearing regularly on his wrist in public appearances and on social media. As a founding member of Migos and a solo artist, he represents a generation of hip-hop figures who treat watchmaking as both personal expression and cultural currency. Custom AP Royal Oaks have become something of a signature statement within that ecosystem.

On the open market, a stock Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26331ST in pink gold retails in the range of $55,000–$65,000 USD depending on configuration. The $235,000 valuation on this piece reflects the cost of the baguette diamond afterset — stones, setting labor, and the premium that chandelier-grade commissions command — rather than any grey-market markup on the base reference itself.