Watch Paparazzi

Basketball player LeBron James spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

LeBron James was captured in what appears to be an NBA locker room — shirtless, composed, and wearing approximately $75,000 on his wrist. The watch in question is an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph in 18-carat rose gold, paired with a deep blue alligator leather strap — a combination that sits at the more formal, understated end of the Royal Oak spectrum while losing none of its presence.

The reference is almost certainly 26240OR.OO.D315CR.02, introduced as part of AP's sweeping Royal Oak 50th anniversary refresh in 2022. At 41mm, the case adopts the updated proportions of the new-generation Royal Oak, with a slimmer profile enabled by the in-house Calibre 4401 — a flyback-capable, column-wheel integrated chronograph beating at 4Hz with 70 hours of power reserve. The movement represents a generational leap over its predecessor, the 2385, and is widely regarded as one of the most technically accomplished integrated chronograph ebauches currently in production.

The blue Grande Tapisserie dial — AP's signature hobnail guilloché — reads with exceptional depth under light, the rose gold applied indices and sub-register surrounds warming the cool dial tone. The three-register layout at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock is clean and legible, a hallmark of Genta's original 1972 design language carried faithfully into this iteration. The alligator strap with rose gold AP folding clasp signals this as the leather variant, reserved for collectors who prefer a dressier presentation.

Within the collector community, the 26240 generation immediately supplanted the 26320 in desirability upon release. The combination of the new movement, slimmer case geometry, and retained Genta DNA pushed secondary market premiums sharply above retail — particularly in rose gold with blue dial, which remains one of the most sought-after configurations.

LeBron James has cultivated one of the most serious watch collections in professional sport, with documented sightings ranging from Richard Mille tourbillons to Patek Philippe perpetual calendars. This Royal Oak Chronograph, worn casually in a locker room context, speaks to how thoroughly AP's sports-luxury icon has transcended its original positioning — it is simultaneously a $75,000 complication and, on the right wrist, practically streetwear.