Watch Paparazzi

Singer J Balvin spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

J Balvin has long signalled his taste for watches that operate at the extremes of the market, and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph reference 25978BC is precisely that kind of statement — a manufacture-set, white gold tour de force that demands as much attention on the wrist as the man wearing it. The Colombian singer was recently spotted with the iced-out Royal Oak clearly visible, its diamond-smothered case catching light in the way only factory-set stones can.

The 25978BC is built around Audemars Piguet's calibre 2385, a column-wheel integrated chronograph movement with a 40-hour power reserve, beating at 21,600 vph. The 39mm case is crafted in 18KT white gold and, crucially, the diamonds are applied at the AP manufacture in Le Brassus — not aftermarket — preserving both the mechanical warranty and the horological integrity of the piece. The dial, pushers, lugs, and every link of the integrated bracelet are pavé-set, a process that requires hundreds of hours of skilled stone-setting work. Gerald Genta's original 1972 Royal Oak architecture is still unmistakable beneath the diamonds: the signature eight-bolt bezel, tapisserie sub-dials, and the perfectly integrated bracelet remain structurally intact.

From a collector standpoint, the 25978BC occupies a specific and respected niche. Purists may favour the steel references, but white gold full-set Royal Oak Chronographs represent the pinnacle of AP's stone-setting craft and are produced in extremely limited numbers. Factory provenance is everything in this segment — a manufacturer-set piece commands a substantial premium over even the finest aftermarket diamond work, and retains collectability that custom iced-out watches simply cannot match.

J Balvin is one of the most decorated artists in Latin music history, with multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy wins to his name. His watch collection consistently reflects a preference for pieces that are technically serious as well as visually confrontational — Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, and AP all feature regularly on his wrist. The 25978BC fits his aesthetic perfectly: it is unambiguously luxurious without sacrificing manufacturing credibility.

The UK list price for the Royal Oak Chronograph 25978BC sits at £155,800, placing the USD retail equivalent well above $190,000. On the grey market, white gold full-pavé Royal Oak Chronographs command prices broadly in line with or above retail, given their scarcity and the sustained global demand for AP's top-tier jewellery complications.