Watch Paparazzi

Musician DJ Khaled spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

DJ Khaled was recently spotted wearing one of the most technically significant Audemars Piguet releases of the decade — the Royal Oak Chronograph 50th Anniversary in 18K pink gold, reference 26240OR, featuring a 'Bleu Nuit' Grande Tapisserie dial mounted on a blue alligator strap. The sighting is a reminder that beneath Khaled's well-documented love of statement pieces sits a collector with a genuine eye for horological milestones.

The Ref. 26240OR represents a genuine engineering inflection point for Audemars Piguet. Launched in 2022 to mark the Royal Oak's 50th anniversary, it debuted the Calibre 4409, the manufacture's first fully integrated column-wheel and vertical clutch chronograph movement developed specifically for the Royal Oak case architecture. Previous Royal Oak chronographs relied on the Calibre 2385, itself a respected movement, but the 4409 is an entirely new construction — thinner, more refined in its finishing, and built with long-term manufacture independence in mind. The 41mm pink gold case retains Gérald Genta's iconic octagonal bezel and integrated bracelet language while the 'Bleu Nuit' dial deepens the palette with a rich midnight-blue sunburst finish over the signature Grande Tapisserie pattern.

From a collector standpoint, the 26240OR occupies rare territory. Anniversary references from AP have historically appreciated sharply, and the combination of a new movement, a limited production window, and the prestige of the 50th anniversary narrative makes this reference a cornerstone piece rather than a footnote. The pink gold and blue dial pairing is widely regarded as the most desirable configuration in the 26240 family, consistently commanding the largest premiums on the secondary market.

DJ Khaled's watch collection is extensively documented — Patek Philippe perpetual calendars, Richard Mille tonneau cases, and AP Royal Oaks have all featured prominently. The 26240OR fits naturally into that inventory as a piece that rewards both casual appreciation and deeper technical knowledge, which is precisely the kind of watch serious collectors gravitate toward regardless of budget ceiling.

At a retail list price of approximately $52,600, the Ref. 26240OR was already a significant acquisition. On the current grey market, examples are trading at roughly $128,000 — well over double retail — reflecting constrained supply, strong global demand, and the enduring cultural weight of the Royal Oak nameplate at its anniversary peak.