Watch Paparazzi

Basketball player LeBron James spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

LeBron James was recently photographed wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Reference 26210OI, a limited-edition timepiece that combines titanium and 18K pink gold in a pairing that turns heads even among seasoned collectors. The sighting adds another significant chapter to the Lakers star's well-documented relationship with high-end watchmaking.

The Royal Oak Offshore 26210OI is built around a 44mm case that fuses a brushed titanium mid-case with 18K pink gold crown, pushers, and bezel — a contrast that is technically demanding to produce and visually arresting in person. Inside runs the Audemars Piguet Calibre 3126/3840, an automatic movement with column-wheel chronograph, 40-hour power reserve, and a characteristic AP finishing standard that includes bevelled bridges and circular-grained mainplates. The dial presents AP's signature tapisserie pattern with applied indices, and the overall execution reflects the Offshore's original 1993 brief: larger, louder, and uncompromising.

Capped at 600 pieces globally, the 26210OI occupies a specific niche within the Offshore family — it is neither the most restrained Offshore nor the most flamboyant, but the titanium-and-pink-gold combination gives it a two-tone identity that ages remarkably well. Collectors value it precisely because the mixed-material architecture is expensive to replicate and was never revisited at scale. Its discontinuation has tightened supply considerably, and examples in strong condition are actively competed for at auction and through grey-market dealers.

LeBron James needs little introduction as a watch enthusiast. Over the years he has been spotted wearing everything from Patek Philippe complications to Richard Mille sport pieces, but his recurring appearances in Audemars Piguet — the brand's long-standing association with NBA culture makes that a natural fit — consistently generate attention among both watch and sports media audiences. The choice of a 600-piece limited Offshore rather than a standard catalogue reference signals genuine collector intent rather than simple brand alignment.

With its official retail price discontinued and no current list price to reference, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 26210OI now trades on the grey market at approximately $100,000 USD, reflecting both its scarcity and the sustained demand for mixed-material AP Offshore references among serious collectors.