Watch Paparazzi

Singer Nick Jonas spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Nick Jonas was recently spotted on the wrist with one of Audemars Piguet's most technically serious — and most debated — modern references: the Code 11.59 Selfwinding Chronograph in 18K rose gold, reference 26393OR, fitted with a blue lacquered dial and matching blue alligator leather strap. The sighting puts a high-profile spotlight on a collection that has divided opinion since its 2019 debut but has steadily built a committed following among those who look beyond the surface controversy.

The Code 11.59 Chronograph ref. 26393OR is powered by the manufacture calibre 4401, a column-wheel, flyback chronograph movement with a lateral clutch and an impressive 70-hour power reserve. Beating at 4 Hz (28,800 vph), the movement is housed in a complex three-part 41mm case that combines a round outer bezel, an octagonal mid-case, and a sapphire-crystal caseback revealing the elaborately finished bridges. The blue sunburst dial offers excellent depth and legibility, with applied rose-gold hour markers providing textural contrast against the lacquered surface.

The Code 11.59 collection launched at SIHH 2019 and immediately attracted criticism for its aesthetic distance from the Royal Oak's legacy. What critics initially overlooked was the genuine movement innovation underneath — calibre 4401 is a ground-up AP construction and a legitimate rival to the finest in-house chronograph ebauches in the industry. Collectors who examined the references closely began to reassess, and by 2022 the collection had carved out a respectable secondary market position, particularly for the gold and gem-set variants.

Nick Jonas has demonstrated a consistent and knowledgeable approach to watch collecting over the years, with documented sightings spanning Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Richard Mille. The choice of the 26393OR — a nuanced, technically rich piece rather than an obvious status symbol — suggests genuine engagement with the catalogue rather than brand-badge dressing.

At a UK list price of £31,200, the Code 11.59 Chronograph in rose gold occupies premium AP territory short of complication pricing. On the grey market, rose gold Code 11.59 Chronographs have traded close to or slightly below retail, reflecting improving but still-building demand — making this arguably one of the more accessible entry points into an 18K gold AP chronograph with a fully in-house movement.