DJ Khaled just secured “anotha one” for his watch collection—except this time, it’s the only one.
The Grammy-winning producer has added a one-of-one Audemars Piguet Royal Oak to his enviable watch collection that’s dripping in 720 baguette-cut natural chrysoberyls sourced from Brazil. Nearly 10 months in the making, the specially commissioned timepiece might just be his most extravagant acquisition yet. Robb Report got an exclusive first look while Khaled received the hand delivery of the extraordinary creation at his home.
Housed in a 41 mm 18-karat yellow-gold case, the timepiece (a dazzling iteration of the Royal Oak
Double Balance Wheel Openworked) transforms one of Audemars Piguet‘s most recognizable silhouettes into a full-fledged high-jewelry spectacle. Its signature octagonal bezel, case, and integrated bracelet are adorned with hundreds of meticulously set gems, giving the watch an almost uninterrupted golden glow. Chrysoberyl is a rare gemstone prized for its exceptional hardness and brilliance, known for its honey and chartreuse hues that shift under the light, making Khaled’s one-of-a-kind watch shine that much brighter.
And beneath the AP’s striking exterior lies some serious mechanical muscle. At its heart beats Audemars Piguet’s self-winding Caliber 3132, an intricate skeletonized movement with a 45-hour power reserve. The caliber’s defining feature is its patented double balance wheel mechanism, which incorporates two balance wheels and two hairsprings assembled on the same axis. The highly complex system is designed to improve the watch’s precision and stability, while its open-work construction offers an unobstructed view of the mechanical choreography happening beneath the dial.
For Khaled, the watch’s significance goes far beyond its technical prowess and considerable sparkle.
“Being you is one of one,” Khaled told Robb Report in an exclusive interview. “When God made you, he made one. And when AP made this watch, they only made one. So I call this One Khaled.”
The sentiment is fitting for an artist whose larger-than-life personality and unapologetic appreciation for luxury have become as recognizable as his music. And while the Royal Oak has long been a favorite among collectors, Khaled’s latest AP is in a category of its own.
Between the unusual gemstone selection, intricate mechanical architecture, and nearly yearlong production process, the aptly nicknamed “One Khaled” is equal parts haute horlogerie and high jewelry—fitting, as Audemars Piguet just launched its first jewelry collection earlier this month.
