Fit for the King: LeBron James' luxury watch collection
BY
Gerwin CoOct 08, 2020
35 years, 34,000+ points, four MVP awards, three NBA championships…the list goes on and on. Fact of the matter is, even into his 17th year in the NBA, LeBron James continues to make a case for G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) status. And with the Playoffs in full swing and his Los Angeles Lakers still in the mix, winning that elusive 4th championship ring will only serve to bolster his case.
But it’s not only in basketball that James is battling for the G.O.A.T. title. James is also an avowed watch collector. While he’s known to be a brand ambassador for Audemars Piguet, that hasn’t limited him from assembling a collection that’s G.O.A.T.-worthy. Take a look at the timepieces that are fit for The King:
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph LeBron James
Let’s start off with the AP Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph LeBron James. More than just having this timepiece bear his name, James also had a direct hand in designing this self-winding, chronograph watch — from the 18-carat pink gold case, diamond-set pushpiece to the gray alligator strap. This isn’t your typical collaboration with an athlete that usually feature team colorways or emblazoning a jersey number front and center. Instead, James opted to amp up the style, something you could wear to a gala. You’ll need a bit of luck finding this one though, it’s limited to just 600 pieces worldwide.
Price: ~HK$568,000
Rolex Day-Date II
Next to Audemars Piguet, the brand closest to James’s heart is probably Rolex. He’s been pictured numerous times with a watch from the famed Geneva-based atelier on his wrist. His go-to model? The 40mm Day-Date II, with the distinctive yellow-gold trim and black dial, which he wore during the championship parade for his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers (though he’s actually from Akron, Ohio). This is one of Rolex’s most popular dress watches, and features the calibre 3255 self-winding movement, Roman numerals and the signature Rolex fluted bezel.
Rolex Sky-Dweller
Yes, it’s another Rolex – this one being one of the largest and most complicated models produced by the brand. The Sky-Dweller is a timepiece designed for frequent travellers, displaying two time zones simultaneously and featuring Rolex’s SAROS annual calendar complication. Inside is the calibre 9001 movement, which has a blue Parachrom hairspring that’s up to 10 times more precise than traditional hairsprings due to its paramagnetic alloy material. The Sky-Dweller is available in multiple configurations, with James’s model decked out in yellow-gold with a champagne-gold dial.
Price: ~HK$365,000
Richard Mille RM 11-03
What kind of elite athlete would you be if you didn’t have at least one Richard Mille watch in your collection? James’s preferred model from the Les Breuleux haute horlogerie specialist is the RM 11-03. Powered by the titanium-based and PVD-coated RMAC3 calibre, the RM 11-03 has a skeletonised dial that features an oversized date and month display, with multicoloured counters for the flyback chronograph. James infamously wore this on the way to a Lakers game together with a New York Yankees cap – in Dodger-land? The nerve! At least he made up for it by swapping the RM 11-03’s traditional strap with a yellow one.
Price: ~HK$2.89 million
Patek Philippe 6102R Celestial
Credit: Vogue Credit: Patek Philippe
You’d never place an astronomical watch on the wrist of one of the world’s greatest athletes, right? It just looks too whimsical for someone whose persona is built on brute strength and dynamism. But trust in James to prove you wrong. During a photo shoot for Vogue, he was spotted sporting the 6102R Celestial from Patek Philippe. Befitting its name, the 6102R features a dial adorned with a rotating chart of heavenly bodies, including the apparent movement of stars and the orbit of the moon. Fun fact: what you see on the dial is actually the same sky you’d see when you look up from Geneva.
Price: ~HK$2.16 million
See also: Take a look at Drake’s outrageous watch collection