Rapper 50 Cent spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

50 Cent was recently spotted on the wrist with one of the most recognisable references in contemporary watchmaking — the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 41mm in stainless steel, reference 15400ST.OO.1220ST.02. For a rapper whose watch collection spans diamond-set customs and six-figure complications, the choice of the 'entry-level' steel Royal Oak speaks volumes: this is a watch worn on its merits, not its price tag.

Introduced in 2012, the ref. 15400ST replaced the long-running 15300ST and brought the Royal Oak into the modern 41mm era. The case retains Gerald Genta's original 1972 octagonal bezel design with eight hexagonal screws, the brushed and polished 'Petite Tapisserie' blue dial, and the integrated stainless steel bracelet that remains one of the finest in the industry. At 41mm across and 9.8mm thick, it wears larger than its predecessor while staying within the proportions Genta intended.

Under the caseback sits Calibre 3120, AP's entirely in-house automatic movement beating at 21,600 vph with a 60-hour power reserve and a 22-carat gold rotor. It replaced the ultra-thin Jaeger-LeCoultre-derived Calibre 2121 — a decision that drew criticism from purists but delivered a more robust, serviceable, and proprietary movement. The ref. 15400 ran until 2020, when it was succeeded by the 15500ST, making this reference a clean, well-defined chapter in Royal Oak history.

For collectors, the 15400ST.OO.1220ST.02 holds a particular place. It is the last generation before AP's post-2020 waiting-list era dramatically inflated grey-market prices and cultural cachet. Owning one now represents genuine connoisseurship — the steel Royal Oak with the blue dial is the purest expression of what made this watch an icon across five decades.

50 Cent has built one of hip-hop's most serious watch wardrobes, regularly photographed with Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, and AP pieces. Choosing the 15400 in steel over a gem-set or gold variant underlines a collector's instinct. At an original UK RRP of approximately £10,000 — roughly $12,500 at the time — this reference now trades significantly above list on the secondary market, reflecting both discontinued status and enduring demand.