The more complicated ref. 5822P-001—a platinum-cased model on a strap with an outsize date, small seconds counter, and date/moonphase indicator—has proven more divisive among collectors, who take issue with its asymmetric dial layout. However, as Stern himself noted in Munich, the Aquanaut—the brand’s cool, entry-level luxury sports watch launched in the 1990s—wasn’t exactly a runaway hit right out of the gate. In the watch world, new collections take time to evolve and to catch on, and many such watches evolve into some of the world’s most desired pieces. Remember that the then-wildly expensive and unconventional-looking Audemars Piguet Royal Oak wasn’t an immediate success, and that the “Paul Newman” Daytona references languished on shelves—sometimes for years—before hammering for eye-watering prices at auction today.
Jay-Z follows his own horological north star. With a collection spanning all the major top-tier brands, he doesn’t limit himself to one particular marque, model, or complication, and instead seems to opt for whatever strikes his fancy. These, of course, include numerous Pateks, including a Tiffany-signed ref. 5961 annual calendar chronograph, a ref. 5271/11P perpetual calendar, an über-complicated Grandmaster Chime, and a Tiffany-blue Nautilus ref. 5711. It’s still early days for the Cubitus collection and it’ll be some time before we know whether or not we have another certified icon on our hands. But one thing’s for sure: With Jay wearing one, the Cubitus is going places.
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John Mayer’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie
As a “Creative Conduit” for Audemars Piguet, John Mayer can always be counted upon to rock one of many particularly cool APs in his collection. Case in point: Mayer was recently seen on his “How’s Life” SiriusXM show wearing a black ceramic Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie. A special-edition version of Genta’s famed luxury sports watch, it’s not only machined from ceramic, but also includes a black Grand Tapisserie dial factory-set with 13 baguette-cut diamond hour indices. The pièce de résistance is of course the supersonnerie (aka minute repeater) function, which means the watch can audibly chime the time upon command. Hey, what else would you expect from a musician if not a watch that gongs at you?
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Gordon Ramsay’s Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 3700/1A
Gordon Ramsay showed up at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix in a Patek Philippe Nautilus—but not just any Patek Philippe Nautilus. Rather, the famously, ahem, vocal Brit chose a ref. 3700/1A “Jumbo”, the very first Nautilus that was designed by Gérald Genta and launched in 1976. Measuring 40mm, it was considered quite large for the time—hence its playful nickname—and fewer than 5,000 pieces were produced during its approximately 14-year production run. With its porthole-inspired case and integrated bracelet, it presents an unusual picture, to be sure, but one that has won the hearts and minds of the collecting world. A ref. 3700/1A will set you back over $135,000—if you can find one.
Luke Combs’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie
Luke Combs’s continues to prove himself as an elite watch collector. He decided this was the week to take a page out of John Mayer’s book by rocking his own Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie to the 2024 CMAs. What else can we say about such a stellar watch? Combs is a great collector in his own right, having been spotted with all manner of Langes, Rolexes, and even an MB&F Legacy Machine Perpetual. At this point, the guy has checked almost every major haute horlogerie box…quick, someone get him an Akrivia so that I have something to write about next week!
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IWC
George Russell’s IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40
Star British F1 driver George Russell knows his way around the track, and around a good watch. Seen celebrating on the podium with fellow Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver Lewis Hamilton, Russell rocked an Ingenieur Automatic 40, the recently reissued luxury sports watch redesigned by Gérald Genta that debuted back in 1976. Featuring a gorgeous aqua-blue dial and a stainless steel 40mm case with an integrated bracelet, the ref. 328903 is, frankly, one of the coolest such luxury sports watches on the market—which is all the more remarkable considering its $11,700 price. (Believe it or not, this is relatively cheap for the category!)
