Basketball player James Harden spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

James Harden made his intentions clear before tip-off, arriving at the arena with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept 'Michael Schumacher' ref. 26221FT on his wrist — a watch that demands attention from anyone who knows what they're looking at. The 76ers guard has long been recognized as one of professional basketball's most serious horological enthusiasts, and this particular choice signals a collector operating well beyond the obvious.

The Royal Oak Concept 26221FT was developed in direct collaboration with Michael Schumacher during the German champion's active F1 career, and its defining complication is the laptimer chronograph — an instrument built for the circuit. Two central seconds hands share the same axis: one runs continuously, the other can be stopped to capture a lap time while the first keeps counting. A flyback function resets and restarts at a single push, and a 30-minute counter completes the chronographic architecture. The movement, Calibre 2884, is visible through the open-worked dial and delivers a 40-hour power reserve.

The case construction reflects the same performance-first philosophy as the complication. Audemars Piguet used forged carbon for the main case, a material that offers exceptional rigidity and low weight, paired with a titanium caseback and bezel. The crown is black ceramic with rose gold, screw-locked for security, and the pushers mirror that same ceramic-rose gold combination. The result is a 44mm watch that sits large but wears with surprising lightness.

Harden's appreciation for the Royal Oak Concept line is consistent with his wider collection, which leans toward complicated, technically ambitious pieces rather than conventional status signifiers. The Schumacher edition carries additional resonance as a genuine co-creation — not a licensing arrangement — with one of motorsport's defining figures, giving it narrative weight that pure manufacture pieces rarely achieve.

On the secondary market, the Royal Oak Concept 'Michael Schumacher' 26221FT trades at a meaningful premium over its original retail position, driven by the limited production run, the discontinued Schumacher partnership, and sustained demand from crossover collectors in both watch and motorsport circles. For a piece that sits at the intersection of F1 history and AP's most avant-garde design language, that premium is well justified.