Welcome back to Celebrity Wristcheck: a regular round-up of our favourite watches spotted on the wrists of influential figures across the globe, in collaboration with Instagram's @celebwatchspotter! Today, we share our favourite celebrity watch sightings from August: featuring Stormzy, John Mayer, Pharrell and more.
Dave
“My AP cost thirty-one, millimeters forty-one”
In a video that surfaced on Twitter last month, UK rapper Stormzy was seen gifting fellow artist Dave an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel openworked in 18k rose gold, factory-set with 32 baguette-cut diamonds, to celebrate the launch of his new album – in a move that subsequently made headlines across the globe.
Rumoured to be a “1-of-1”, this piece joins Dave’s ever-growing collection of APs, which to our knowledge includes a Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in black ceramic, a Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked in frosted gold with rainbow baguettes, and also the Double Balance Wheel Openworked in steel (which retailed at roughly GBP 32,000 at the time of its launch in 2016) – so his reference to a mystery 41mm AP costing ‘thirty one’ in hit single Clash featuring Stormzy could potentially just have been solved.
With his chart-topping album We’re All Alone In This Together, Dave has reason to celebrate: and what better way for Stormzy to show a brother love than gifting him this stunning timepiece.
Reference: 15412OR.ZZ.1220OR.01
Retail price: USD 127,000 / HKD 989,000
Est. market value: USD 450,000+ / HKD 3,500,000+
Stormzy
“Rolex collections lookin' dope / I got the Pepsi and the Hulk”
Stormzy’s impressive collection of AP’s has been well documented – but clearly, the rapper is an avid Rolex collector as well. Stormzy, a.k.a. Big Mike was spotted at the GRM Gala recently wearing a 18KT yellow gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona with a factory set bezel adorned with 36 trapeze-cut diamonds.
Rolex released the ref. 116588TBR at Baselworld 2019 in a move that stunned the masses. This bedazzled Daytona, which has since been coined the ‘Eye of the Tiger’, features a tiger-print, diamond-laced dial (243 to be exact), a gem-set yellow-gold bezel with 36 trapeze-cut diamonds, and diamond hour-markers.
With the coveted ‘Pepsi’ (GMT Master II ref. 126710BLRO) and the ‘Hulk’ (Submariner ref. 116610LV) apparently already in his collection, this iced-out addition must feel right at home on the wrist of the multiple award-winner.
Reference: 116588TBR
Retail price: USD 120,000 / HKD 840,000
Est. market value: USD 170,000+/ HKD 1,320,000+
Lil Durk
“I ain't know that h-- for long, she asked for Audemars Piguet”
Chicago-based rapper Lil Durk was spotted wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph in 18K pink gold with a blue Tapisserie dial. Released in 2021, this 41mm Royal Oak is definitely one of the (arguably) more subdued timepieces that the 3 Headed Goat rapper owns.
While the iconic Royal Oak design doesn’t need any introduction, and has been a favourite amongst celebrities, Lil Durk’s 2021 timepiece stands out by being the first Royal Oak Chronograph model to receive an in-house movement. The manufacture Calibre 4401 is the brand’s integrated flyback chrono movement which was first revealed in the Code 11.59 collection and has now made its way into the Royal Oak.
Reference: 26239OR.OO.1220OR.01
Retail price: USD 66,300 / HKD 496,000
Est. market value: USD 150,000+ / HKD 1,168,000+
John Mayer
With his new album Sob Rock out and a current tour with his band Dead & Company underway, John Mayer has been quite busy this summer. By the looks of it, he rewarded the grind by picking up something special on his last trip to New York; the first Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5711 with olive green dial and a Tiffany & Co. stamp! Already known as a prominent watch collector with a penchant for the rarest of the rare, his newest acquisition will fit in perfectly within his collection of Pateks.
Patek Philippe made waves earlier in January this year when it announced it was discontinuing its flagship sports model, the Nautilus ref. 5711. To mark this event, the Genevan Maison decided to release a farewell edition of the Nautilus – one with an olive green dial. Produced only this year, the piece immediately became the hottest watch in the market and currently sells for a whopping 10 times its retail price! The watch also made headlines when a single-sealed example was sold by Antiquorum in July of this year; the famous “Gregory Pau Nautilus.”
Given the rarity of a standard olive green 5711, the added value here of a Tiffany & Co. stamp, and a stunning provenance as John Mayer’s watch; should this specific timepiece ever hit the market, one can only imagine how much it would sell for.
Reference: 5711/1A-014 “Tiffany & Co”
Retail price: USD 34,893 HKD 250,400 (Standard version)
Est. market value: N/A
Young Thug
“Newborn baby, my Richard Mille nine months”
Slime Language rapper Young Thug was spotted wearing the RM16-01 ‘Réglisse’ from Richard Mille’s Bonbon collection – which recently made an appearance on his wrist again in Drake’s Way 2 Sexy music video.
With RM opting for a fully-fledged pastel colour scheme here (save for the dial), the Réglisse – French for ‘liquorice’ – has been outfitted with tones of blush pink and yellow TZP ceramic. Produced in a limited run of 30 pieces, the RM16-01 Réglisse is a playful take on a square timepiece. The star of the show, its dial, takes the form of a massive roll of liquorice that occupies the entire dial space, finished with a black chrome coating that lends the ‘liquorice’ its candy-like colour and texture. Powered by RM’s calibre CRMA2 skeletonized autotmatic movement, the Réglisse packs 50 hours of power reserve, and comes fitted on a pastel-pink rubber strap that truly hammers the aesthetic home. Clearly, Thugger has a sweet tooth.
Reference: RM16-01 ‘Réglisse’
Retail price: USD 165,000 / HKD 1,285,000
Est. market value: USD 330,000+ / HKD 2,500,000+
PSG President
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the President of French football club Paris Saint-Germain, has been making waves since being appointed in 2011 and has managed to convince some of the best players in the world to join his squad; with signings such as Zlatan Ibrahimović, Neymar, or more recently Messi to name a few.
Luxury watches have always been well appreciated by people in the football world and many of them are spotted daily wearing the most exclusive timepieces. Seen on the wrist of Nasser Al-Khelaifi here is the Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar ref. 5740G, by far the most complicated Nautilus the Maison has ever released. Launched in 2018, the 5740G is still one of the most elusive watches on the market. Powered by Patek Philippe’s famed automatic 240 Q caliber with micro-rotor, the 5740G has everything going for it from the white gold case and beautiful dial color, to the perfect 40mm size. While any Nautilus model is already difficult to get at Authorized Dealer – slap on a complication, and you’ve got yourself an even longer waitlist. But we’re guessing that Nasser Al-Khelaifi didn’t have to wait long to acquire this one.
Reference: 5740/1G-001
Retail price: USD 123,380 / HKD 967,600
Est. market value: USD 240,000+ / HKD 1,860,000+
Pharrell (RM Pharrell Sapphire)
During a recent episode of Complex’s “Sneaker Shopping”, Pharrell was spotted wearing his own model of Richard Mille watch, the RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams – but in a transparent sapphire case, limited to only 8 pieces worldwide. We know Pharrell needs no introduction: his work permeates throughout the hip-hop industry. What might need more explanation is his timepiece.
Growing up a Star Trek fan, the theme of space came to mind when he designed his watch with Richard Mille – and Mars, in particular. The visor, where the Red Planet is represented, is a curved 5N gold piece that is hand engraved, grand-feu-enamelled and then hand-painted. The background, which recreates the abyss of space, is a large blue Aventurine glass piece incorporated into the movement’s baseplate. For its sapphire case, 40 days and 24/7 of continuous machining are required in order to produce just one. Now you understand why only 8 pieces of the RM 52-05 Sapphire were made.
Reference: RM 52-05 Tourbillon ‘Pharrell Williams’
Retail price: USD 3,000,000 / HKD 23,360,000
Est. market value: N/A
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Crown Prince of Dubai
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, better known as Fazza, was recently spotted wearing a Richard Mille RM 67-02 model made especially for the UAE Team Emirate cycling team. This special edition carries a different colour scheme than the standard production of the RM 67-02. Here, the colours of the bridges (green, red, black and white) represent the United Arab Emirates flag. Only a few of them were given to members of the cycling team and Fazza, an accomplished equestrian and sports enthusiast, was able to get ahold of one for himself.
The RM 67-02 is the lightest automatic timepiece from Richard Mille, weighing next to nothing at a mere 32g, strap included! If you paid close attention, you may have spotted several athletes in the Olympics wearing one – including Mutaz Essa Barshim and Wayde Van Niekerk. Arguably one of the most popular models from Richard Mille, it’s also one of the most difficult to get.
Reference: RM 67-02 UAE Team Emirates
Retail price: Not Available For Sale
Est. market value: N/A
David Guetta
French DJ David Guetta was spotted wearing a Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5712/1A in stainless steel.
Descending from a lineage of asymmetrical dial variant Patek Philippe Nautilus models, the ref. 5712/1A blends its steel construction and black-blue dial for a classically sleek look. Featuring its famous asymmetrical dial with a moonphase, the ref. 5712/1A is perhaps one of the most unique Nautilus references, given its aesthetic departure from the collection's roots.
It’s a luxury-orientated timepiece with more complications than most Nautilus references, yet manages to retain the look and feel of a quintessential sports watch that is formal-wear friendly and far more understated in its extravagance. A solid choice from Guetta.
Reference: 5712/1A
Retail price: USD 47,900 / HKD 322,500
Est. market value: USD 110,000+ / HKD 800,000+
Floyd Mayweather
Undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather was spotted wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15413OR in 18K pink gold, factory-set with rainbow-baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel, a diamond pavé dial, and baguette-cut diamonds as hour markers. This absolute behemoth of a watch is limited to 10 pieces, appropriately iced out for the reigning champion, and something we’d love to see in the metal.
Reference: 15413OR
Retail price: USD 165,000 / HKD 1,090,000
Est. market value: USD 240,000+ / HKD 1,860,000+