Entrepreneur Kevin O'Leary spotted wearing a Patek Philippe

Kevin O'Leary has never been shy about his horological tastes, and his latest sighting confirms he is operating at the very top of the market. The entrepreneur and television personality was spotted wearing the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Luce 'Rainbow' Chronograph reference 7968/300R — a piece that represents the most jewel-intensive interpretation of Patek's modern sport-watch line and one of the most labor-intensive references in the current collection.

The 7968/300R is built on an 18k rose gold case measuring 38.8mm, housing Patek Philippe's caliber CH 29-535 PS — a manufacture chronograph movement featuring column wheel control, a horizontal clutch, and a flyback function. The movement offers approximately 65 hours of power reserve and beats at 28,800 vph. It is among the most refined in-house chronograph ebauches in the industry, and Patek introduced it specifically to bring true manufacture credibility to the Aquanaut family's more complication-forward references.

What distinguishes the 7968/300R from an already exceptional baseline is its stone work. The bezel is set with baguette-cut diamonds and multi-colored rainbow sapphires arranged in a carefully graduated chromatic sequence — a hallmark of Patek's 'Rainbow' pieces that requires gem specialists to hand-select and match stones for color continuity. The white mother-of-pearl dial retains the Aquanaut's signature embossed pattern while adding 12 baguette-cut multicolored sapphire hour markers, each individually set. It is simultaneously a sport watch and a haute joaillerie object.

For collectors, the Aquanaut Luce 'Rainbow' occupies a fascinating position. The Luce designation — meaning 'light' in Italian — signals the line's orientation toward women, though the piece transcends gender categorization in today's market. Rainbow references from Patek Philippe have commanded extraordinary premiums at auction, with comparable pieces trading well above retail. Availability through authorized dealers is virtually nonexistent.

At an official retail price of $212,750, the 7968/300R is already one of Patek's more stratospheric list prices. On the secondary market, demand consistently pushes these rainbow pieces significantly higher. For O'Leary, who treats watch collecting as seriously as any balance sheet, this particular wrist choice is entirely consistent with his reputation for acquiring assets that appreciate.