Watch Paparazzi

Singer J Balvin spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

J Balvin was recently spotted on the wrist with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Camouflage, reference 26400SO — a piece that sits at the more distinctive end of the already assertive Offshore catalogue. The sighting is consistent with the singer's established appetite for watches that prioritize visual impact without sacrificing horological substance.

The Royal Oak Offshore Ref. 26400SO measures 44mm and is constructed from forged carbon, a composite material that AP has deployed with particular skill across its Offshore range. Forged carbon is produced by compressing carbon fiber strands under heat and pressure, yielding a marbled, swirling surface finish that is both lighter than steel and harder-wearing in daily use. The dial replicates the camouflage motif with a coordinated khaki and grey pattern, while the case is completed with a matching rubber strap. Inside runs the automatic Calibre 3126/3840, offering a 50-hour power reserve with hours, minutes, small seconds, and a date complication — a proven, robust movement well suited to the Offshore's sport-watch brief.

The Offshore line itself was born in 1993 as an intentionally oversized, more aggressive riff on Gerald Genta's original 1972 Royal Oak. Where the standard Royal Oak built its reputation on refined restraint, the Offshore leaned into excess — and found an enormous audience for it. The camouflage references, introduced during the 2010s, tapped into a streetwear-inflected aesthetic that resonated particularly strongly with musicians, athletes, and cultural figures who wear watches as expression rather than pure tradition.

J Balvin has built one of the most commercially dominant careers in Latin music, with a personal brand that places color, creativity, and cultural boundary-crossing at its center. His watch choices tend to mirror that philosophy — unconventional references over safe ones, statement pieces over status defaults. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 26400SO fits that profile precisely.

On the grey market, the ref. 26400SO trades at a modest premium over list given its discontinued status and niche collector following. The forged carbon construction and limited production run give it real long-term holding power, and AP's sustained brand strength under its independent ownership structure continues to underpin secondary market values across the Offshore range.