Watch Paparazzi

Basketball player LeBron James spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

LeBron James has once again surfaced on the horological radar, this time wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore in 18-karat rose gold, reference 26067OR. The sighting reinforces what watch followers have known for years: James does not treat timepieces as afterthoughts.

The Royal Oak Offshore 26067OR is built around the calibre 3126/3840, a self-winding integrated chronograph movement with a 50-hour power reserve, running at 21,600 vph. The 44mm rose gold case — substantially larger than the original 39mm Royal Oak — carries the signature 'Tapisserie' dial pattern and the pronounced octagonal bezel with eight hexagonal screws that have defined AP's design language since the Offshore debuted in 1993. The rose gold execution gives the reference a warmth that stainless steel versions cannot replicate, and the integrated rubber strap with rose gold deployant buckle ties the package together cleanly.

The Royal Oak Offshore itself was conceived by Emmanuel Gueit as a deliberately oversized, sportier riff on Genta's 1972 Royal Oak. When it launched, the watch industry met it with scepticism — its 42mm case seemed enormous by the standards of the day. History, of course, vindicated the design entirely. Within a decade, the Offshore had become a cultural touchstone, and rose gold references like the 26067OR represent the line's most luxurious expression, bridging haute horlogerie finishing with an unmistakably bold wrist presence.

For collectors, the 26067OR occupies a specific tier. Full precious-metal Offshore chronographs in rose gold trade at significant premiums over their steel counterparts, and their production volumes are considerably more restricted. The calibre 3126/3840 is regarded as a reliable, well-finished movement — not the flashiest in AP's portfolio, but entirely appropriate for a sports-luxury chronograph of this standing.

LeBron James has been photographed over the years with Richard Mille tourbillons, Patek Philippe complications, and various AP references, suggesting a collection assembled with genuine intent rather than casual brand association. The 26067OR, at its UK list price of £85,500, is entirely consistent with that trajectory — a serious watch worn by someone who clearly understands what he has on his wrist.