Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Young Thug spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Young Thug was recently spotted wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Automatic in 18k rose gold, reference 15400OR.OO.1220OR — a 41mm statement that sits at the upper register of AP's core Royal Oak lineup and commands immediate attention from anyone who follows serious horology.

The 15400OR is built around the Calibre 3120, an entirely in-house automatic movement beating at 21,600 vph with a 60-hour power reserve and 40 jewels. Audemars Piguet introduced the 3120 specifically to replace the older 3121 (shared with Patek Philippe at the time), asserting full movement independence. The finishing is quintessential AP: beveled bridges, circular Côtes de Genève, and a rotor in matching 18k rose gold. The dial deploys the iconic petite tapisserie pattern — tiny raised pyramids applied with extraordinary precision — rendered here in a rich blue that shifts tone dramatically under different light sources.

From a collector standpoint, the 15400OR occupies a fascinating position. It was discontinued and succeeded by the 15500OR, meaning the reference has crossed into legacy territory without yet reaching vintage status — a window where prices on the secondary market can be particularly dynamic. The rose gold and blue dial combination is widely regarded as the most aesthetically harmonious pairing in the 15400 family, preferred over the yellow gold version by a significant portion of the collector community. The matching integrated rose gold bracelet with deployant clasp completes a cohesive, unified design that Gerald Genta's original 1972 sketch essentially demanded.

Young Thug has long been documented as a serious watch collector, with a taste that runs toward bold complications and precious metal sports watches. The Royal Oak 15400OR fits his profile precisely: it reads as understated to the untrained eye but signals deep horological knowledge to anyone in the know. It is not the loudest watch in the room — it is the most confident.

At an official retail price of $56,200, the 15400OR.OO.1220OR was already a significant investment. On the grey market, discontinued rose gold Royal Oak references consistently trade above retail, reflecting sustained global demand and constrained supply — making Young Thug's wrist real estate worth noting well beyond the celebrity context.