Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Akash Ambani spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Akash Ambani, the eldest son of Mukesh Ambani and a key figure in Reliance Industries' digital and media ventures, was photographed aboard a private jet with a timepiece on his wrist that any serious AP collector would immediately recognise: the Royal Oak Offshore 'Marcus' DLC, a limited-edition chronograph produced in partnership with Dallas luxury retailer Neiman Marcus. The sighting, casual in setting but deliberate in choice, adds another notable entry to Ambani's growing reputation as a genuine watch enthusiast rather than a passive luxury consumer.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 'Marcus' edition — reference 26379CE.OO.D001KE.01 — is built around a forged carbon case measuring 44mm, finished with a DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) treatment that renders it a near-matte black. The bezel retains the iconic octagonal Royal Oak Offshore architecture with visible titanium screws, while the dial deploys a blackened chronograph layout with bold Arabic numerals and subdial rings in high-contrast red. The pushers and crown are rendered in red rubber, reinforcing the graphic identity. Powering the watch is Calibre 3126/3840, AP's in-house automatic chronograph movement offering 60 hours of power reserve.

Limited to 200 pieces, the Marcus collaboration sits within a long tradition of AP retail-partner exclusives that have consistently outperformed expectations in the secondary market. The forged carbon case material — produced using a proprietary process that gives each piece a unique fiber pattern — was still relatively novel when this reference was introduced, adding material rarity to numerical scarcity. Among Royal Oak Offshore collector communities, the Marcus DLC is regarded as one of the more visually coherent limited editions, avoiding the gimmickry that occasionally plagues retailer exclusives.

Akash Ambani has been spotted wearing serious horological pieces across multiple occasions, reflecting a taste that leans toward sportif complication rather than formal dress watches. His family's profile in Indian and global business circles means watch sightings carry weight — they signal authenticity and intent rather than mere access to wealth.

At an original retail of approximately $18,500, the Marcus DLC was modestly priced for a limited AP chronograph at time of release. On the grey market today, scarcity and collector demand have pushed valuations meaningfully higher, with clean examples trading in the $28,000–$35,000 range depending on condition and provenance. For a 200-piece run, that appreciation trajectory is logical and likely to continue.