Basketball player Jordan Clarkson spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Jordan Clarkson, NBA champion and guard for the New York Knicks, was photographed at the ESPYs wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ref. 26238BC from the exclusive 1017 Alyx 9SM collaboration. The timepiece sat prominently on his wrist in 18k white gold, paired with the accompanying black rubber strap—a styling choice that underscores the watch's inherent modularity and contemporary versatility.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ref. 26238BC represents a carefully controlled collaboration between the Swiss manufacture and New York-based designer Matthew Williams. The case measures 42mm in diameter and stands 14.1mm thick, machined from 18k white gold with a polished octagonal bezel and integrated bracelet lugs. The dial features a distinctive vertically-brushed finish in matching white gold tone, creating an unusually minimalist aesthetic for an Offshore model. A black rubber strap—interchangeable thanks to the Offshore's modular lug system—provides contrast and contemporary sportiness. Water resistance reaches 100 metres, suitable for recreational water exposure. The movement is the Calibre 3124, Audemars Piguet's in-house automatic chronograph calibre with 40 jewels, 21,600 vibrations per hour, and approximately 70 hours of power reserve.

What distinguishes this reference among Royal Oak Offshore collectors is its extreme scarcity: Audemars Piguet produced only 76 examples worldwide in this 18k white gold configuration. The 2023 Matthew Williams collaboration expanded across multiple references—a 37mm time-only Royal Oak, a Royal Oak Chronograph in 18k yellow gold, and a limited two-tone "pièce unique" with black dial—but the ref. 26238BC remains the most desirable variant among watch enthusiasts due to its monochromatic aesthetic and white-gold construction.

Clarkson's choice reflects the growing intersection between luxury sports watches and basketball culture. His pairing of the chronograph with the black rubber strap demonstrates the practical appeal of the Offshore platform, even in its most exclusive iterations. The watch's modularity—a hallmark of contemporary Royal Oak Offshore design—allows wearers to shift between formal occasions and casual settings without sacrificing horological substance.

Secondary market pricing for the ref. 26238BC currently ranges between $65,000 and $85,000 USD, considerably above the original retail price of approximately $48,000. Production scarcity and the prestige of the 1017 Alyx 9SM collaboration have sustained strong collector demand, with waitlists historically extending across multiple years at authorized dealers. Clarkson's sighting reinforces the Offshore's status as the preferred chronograph among professional athletes and luxury-watch collectors alike.