The NBA sensation known as “The King,” LeBron James, is much more than just the greatest basketball player of the current generation. James is a watch collector as well as an investor, actor, and philanthropist. The ordinary watch collector would swoon over LeBron James’ watch collection, which includes pieces from Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Richard Mille. 18 timepieces from the King’s collection will be examined now.
LEBRON JAMES’ PATEK PHILIPPE WATCHES
No watch collection, in my opinion, is complete without a Gerald Genta design. The Patek Philippe Nautilus watch by Gerald Genta is possibly its most well-known creation. LeBron owns a number of Nautiluses. He has been seen donning the Patek Philippe Nautilus chronograph in rose gold, reference 5980/1R-001. Not all of the athletes we’ve profiled have this Nautilus, including LeBron. The same item has also been seen on Conor McGregor numerous times. Although the Nautilus 5980/1R-001 is pretty stunning, it will set you back more than $280,000 USD.
Without a Gerald Genta design, in my opinion, no watch collection is complete. Gerald Genta’s Patek Philippe Nautilus watch is arguably his most well-known design. LeBron is the owner of several Nautiluses. The Patek Philippe Nautilus chronograph in rose gold, reference 5980/1R-001, has been spotted on him. LeBron James is one of the athletes we’ve profiled who doesn’t have this Nautilus. Conor McGregor has also frequently been spotted wearing the same item. The Nautilus 5980/1R-001 is quite beautiful, but it costs more than $280,000 USD.
The Patek Philippe Sky Moon Celestial Ref. 6102R is one of the brand’s “Grand Complications” and the last Patek Philippe I will highlight from LeBron’s collection. The timepiece has a decorative black sapphire crystal dial with a spinning chart of the celestial bodies that displays a picture of the northern hemisphere’s night sky at any given time. The Patek Philippe Sky Moon Celestial is available secondhand for about $360,000 USD.
LEBRON JAMES’ ROLEX WATCHES
Lebron has been photographed wearing a few different watches, yet the majority of his collection does not consist of Rolex. LeBron’s Rolex collection consists of both the entry-level Oyster Perpetual and more expensive gold watches. For a Rolex collector, this contrast is rather striking. Regarding gold Rolex-Day-Dates, James has been sighted donning a Ref. 218238 41mm 18k yellow gold Rolex Day-Date II. Although the Day-Date 41 is no longer produced (although a 40mm version is still available), Lebron’s watch is still available on the secondary market for over $55,000 USD.
Although Lebron has been seen wearing a variety of timepieces, Rolex does not make up the majority of his collection. Both the entry-level Oyster Perpetual and more expensive gold watches may be found in LeBron James’ Rolex collection. This distinction is rather noticeable to a Rolex collector. James has reportedly been spotted wearing a Ref. 218238 41mm 18k yellow gold Rolex Day-Date II. Lebron’s watch is still obtainable on the secondary market for more than $55,000 USD even though the Day-Date 41 is no longer manufactured (but a 40mm version is still available).
LeBron’s Rolex collection also includes some of the most affordable pieces Rolex has to offer. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual is as entry level as you can get for a Rolex, and James has a couple. James was spotted wearing the 41mm Rolex Oyster Perpetual with coral red dial (Ref. M124300-0007). This piece retails for the affordable price (for Rolex) of $6,150. The Oyster Perpetuals have recently skyrocketed on the secondary market, however, where this piece is selling for $23,000 USD and over.
LeBron has also been spotted wearing another Rolex Oyster Perpetual, the variation in turquoise blue (Ref. M124300-0006). This 41mm Rolex also retails for just $6,150 USD, but is selling on the secondary market for around $40,000 USD. This is because the color variation is similar to the Tiffany Blue on the extremely rare Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711. Apparently watch collectors that will never get their hands on the Nautilus are opting to buy the Oyster Perpetual instead, causing the price to skyrocket (along with secondary sellers marketing it as a “Tiffany Blue Rolex Oyster Perpetual”). Well, LeBron doesn’t need to settle for one or the other as he has both watches.
Lebron seems to enjoy the baby blue, turquoise, and Tiffany blue dials. Lebron was sighted on April 8, 2022, sporting a very rare platinum Rolex Day-Date with Arabic numbers, an ice blue dial, and baguette cut diamonds. He also owns the Tiffany Blue Nautilus and the now-discontinued Turquoise “Tiffany” blue 41mm Oyster Perpetual. Only Middle Eastern shops are offering this item, Ref. 228396TBR, for sale for $119,000 USD. The price of this item on the secondary market is around $430,000 USD.
LEBRON JAMES’ AUDEMARS PIGUET WATCHES
LeBron also has quite the collection of Audemars Piguet watches. Perhaps James’ interest in AP’s began in 2013 when he teamed up with the brand to create the Royal Oak Offshore LeBron James limited edition. Even though LeBron is a large guy at 6′ 9″, the watch comes in at only 44mm in diameter. The watch is made of both titanium and gold, a combination not often seen on a watch and includes a single diamond-set chrono pusher that is not visible while looking at the watch straight on. The watch is limited to 600 pieces and originally retailed for $51,500 USD in 2013. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore LeBron James is currently selling selling on the secondary market for between $80,000 and $100,000 USD.
One of my favorite AP’s that LeBron owns is the Royal Oak Chronograph in pink gold with blue dial (Ref. 26331OR.OO.D315CR.0). The case size on this piece is a modest 41mm and the watch has a highly sought after blue dial. While the retail price on this piece is close to $40,000 USD it is currently selling on the secondary market for around $120,000 USD.
While LeBron does not have many “iced out” watches, he was recently spotted wearing a diamond-adorned piece. The piece in question is an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore with factory diamonds on both the dial and case (Ref. 26067BC.ZZ.D002CR.01). The watch has a white gold case with 341 brilliant-cut diamonds on both the case and dial. While retail price on this piece is $118,000 USD you can get it for $97,940 USD on the secondary market.
The new partnership between Audemars Piguet and Marvel was one of their more unexpected moves. The Royal Oak Concept Black Panther Flying Tourbillon (Ref. 26620IO.OO.D077CA.01) is the end outcome of the partnership. Purple accents and the Black Panther are featured on the dial of this futuristic piece. LeBron James, who owns one of the 250 pieces produced, was spotted wearing the expensive and rather contentious item. For between $380,000 and $500,000 USD, you can find a few pieces of Black Panther AP on the secondary market.
In addition to his Black Panther Tourbillon, James also has a couple of other AP tourbillons. One of these pieces is the Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon 25th anniversary in steel (Ref. 26421ST.OO.A002CA.01). This piece is limited to only 50 pieces worldwide and is currently available on the secondary market for $425,000 USD.
If you really like a watch, why not get it twice, right? Well LeBron also has the pink gold version of the Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon 25th anniversary (Ref. 26421OR.OO.A002CA.01). Like its steel counterpart, this piece is also limited to 50 pieces and is currently available on the secondary market for $572,000 USD.
Lebron has been out and about sporting a couple new Royal Oaks recently and I felt compelled to add these two pieces to the article. Lebron was recently spotted wearing a 41mm Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked in black ceramic with a skeletonized dial. The slate gray dial features pink gold applied hour-markers and the case is bracelet are made of black ceramic. This piece (Ref. 15416CE.OO.1225CE.01) is currently selling on the secondary market for around $600,000 USD.
James was also recently spotted wearing the brand new 50th Anniversary Audemars Piguet Royal Oak yellow gold Jumbo Extra Thin with a smoked yellow gold toned dial. This piece, Ref. 16202BA, retails for $70,500 USD but sells on the secondary market for around $550,000 USD.
Lebron keeps on improving his Audemars Piguet collection. While injured, he was spotted courtside of the Lakers-Suns game wearing an 18k rose gold Audemars Piguet Tourbillon Ref. 26521OR. The bezel of this Royal Oak is set with 32 baguette-cut sapphires. The blue dial features a stunning Tapisserie Evolutive pattern with emerald hour markers. This piece has a price-tag of around $190,000 USD.
LEBRON JAMES’ RICHARD MILLE WATCHES
While LeBron doesn’t have as large a Richard Mille collection as someone like Jay-Z or Drake, he does have a couple of pieces. One of the pieces is the Richard Mille RM011 Felipe Massa. This watch was named after Brazilian Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa and has numerous complications, including a flyback chronograph, a 60-minute countdown timer, and an annual calendar. While the watch retailed for around $130,000 USD it is currently selling on the secondary market for over $300,000 USD.
LeBron’s other Richard Mille is also an RM011, but an RM011-03 “Jean Todt” with a blue case made of NTPT blue carbon and black carbon. Jean Todt is a French motor racing executive and former rally co-driver, so with this RM011, Richard Mille is keeping its racing heritage. While this piece has the same complications as the Felipe Massa mentioned above, it is selling for 2.5 times the price of that watch. You would have to spend an astronomical $750,000 USD to pick one up on the secondary market.
