Comedian Kevin Hart spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Kevin Hart closed out the New Year celebration with a statement squarely on his wrist: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26598BC in 18K white gold, complete with a factory diamond bezel and a deep purple Grande Tapisserie dial. The comedian and devoted watch collector has long demonstrated an appetite for high-complication AP pieces, and this sighting ranks among his most impressive to date.

The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar 26598BC measures 41mm and houses the celebrated Calibre 5134, a self-winding movement beating at 19,800 vph with an 40-hour power reserve. The perpetual calendar module displays date, day, month, leap year, and moon phase across a perfectly balanced dial layout — a design AP has refined over decades since the first Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar debuted in 1984. The purple Grande Tapisserie dial is a relatively recent and limited color expression, the hobnail pattern catching light in ways that interact dramatically with the 32 baguette-cut diamonds factory-set into the 18K white gold bezel.

For collectors, the 26598BC occupies a specific and coveted niche. Factory-set diamond bezels from AP carry a significant premium over steel or plain precious-metal references, and colored dials — particularly purple — have surged in desirability as the secondary market for Royal Oak complications has matured. This reference is not a piece you encounter regularly at retail, and AP's allocation policies make new acquisition increasingly difficult through authorized channels.

Kevin Hart has built one of the most publicized watch collections in entertainment, with Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille forming its twin pillars. His New Year wrist choice signals more than personal taste — it reflects an understanding of where horological and cultural value intersect. The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in this specific configuration is a watch that speaks to both audiences simultaneously.

On the grey market, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26598BC is currently commanding approximately $400,000, a figure that reflects both the intrinsic value of the white gold and diamond case and the sustained collector demand for high-complication Royal Oaks. Retail pricing for comparable factory-set AP perpetual calendar references sits well above $150,000, underscoring just how aggressively this reference has appreciated.