Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Dave spotted wearing Vacheron Constantin

UK rapper and Brit Award winner Dave — born David Orobosa Omoregie — was recently spotted wearing a Vacheron Constantin Historiques American 1921 in 18K white gold, reference 82035/000G-B735. The sighting is a notable one: this is not a watch purchased for flash or street-level recognition, but a deliberate choice that signals genuine horological awareness.

The Historiques American 1921 traces its lineage directly to a commission Vacheron Constantin fulfilled for the American market in the early 1920s. The defining feature is its tilted dial — rotated 45 degrees clockwise so that the 12 sits at what would conventionally be the 2 o'clock position. The logic was ergonomic: early motorists could read the time while keeping both hands on the wheel. The 2021-era reissue preserves that DNA faithfully. The ref. 82035/000G-B735 measures 40mm in 18K white gold, pairs with a slate-toned dial, and runs on the manually wound Calibre 4400 AS — a thin, COSC-adjacent movement offering 65 hours of power reserve with exceptional finishing befitting a maison with Geneva Seal heritage.

Among collectors, the American 1921 occupies a singular position. It is one of very few historically grounded reissues that justifies its existence on pure design merit rather than nostalgia marketing. The offset crown, the slanted numerals, and the cushion-shaped case create an immediately recognizable silhouette that no other major manufacture can replicate without borrowing. The white gold variant is the more restrained choice over the yellow gold option — understated in tone, but unmistakable in form.

Dave's taste in watches has trended toward considered, under-the-radar references rather than the stainless steel sports watches that dominate rap culture's watch conversation. A manually wound Vacheron in white gold is an informed purchase — one that suggests consultation with someone knowledgeable, or personal research.

At a UK list price of £31,200 (approximately $42,800 USD), the American 1921 ref. 82035/000G-B735 sits at a reasonable entry point for an 18K precious metal piece from one of horology's founding houses. On the grey market, pricing has remained relatively close to retail, a sign of steady rather than speculative demand — which, for a watch this distinctive, is arguably the right kind of reputation to hold.