Watch Paparazzi

Musician Avicii spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Before his untimely passing in 2018, Tim Bergling — known worldwide as Avicii — was photographed wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph in full 18kt rose gold, reference 26320OR.OO.1220OR.01. The sighting underscores how the Swedish producer gravitated toward watches with genuine horological substance rather than mere status signaling.

The Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26320OR.OO.1220OR.01 is a study in integrated design and technical depth. Built entirely in 18kt rose gold — case, bezel, bracelet and all — the watch measures 41mm and wears with the characteristic confidence of Genta's original 1972 architecture. The salmon-toned dial carries the hallmark "Grande Tapisserie" guilloche pattern, with applied rose gold hour markers and two subsidiary registers for the chronograph functions. Power comes from the in-house Calibre 2385, a column-wheel, lateral-clutch movement beating at 21,600 vph with a 40-hour power reserve — a mechanism AP has refined across decades to deliver crisp, positive chronograph engagement.

This particular reference has since been discontinued, which amplifies its collector appeal significantly. Full precious-metal Royal Oak Chronographs occupy a specific niche: they command the sportiness and integrated-bracelet architecture that made the Royal Oak iconic, while delivering a material richness that the steel variants deliberately avoid. The rose gold execution softens none of the watch's angularity — it simply elevates the temperature. Among AP collectors, discontinued rose gold sport references consistently outperform expectations at auction, as supply contracts and demand from completists grows.

Avicii's watch choices were consistently considered. At the height of his career, he was photographed with several serious references across multiple brands, reflecting a genuine collector's curiosity rather than a stylist's brief. For a musician who approached production with a craftsman's obsession over detail, a movement-forward choice like the 26320OR reads as entirely consistent.

On the secondary market, discontinued full rose gold Royal Oak Chronographs have appreciated meaningfully. With an original UK RRP of approximately £35,000, grey market pricing for the 26320OR.OO.1220OR.01 in strong condition now trends above original retail, particularly for examples with box and papers. Provenance linked to a cultural figure of Avicii's stature only reinforces that trajectory.