Some vintage, rare, one-of-a-kind watches just sold at Pharrel Williams’s “Art of Time” auction on Joopiter. From July 17th to July 29th, watches from Williams’s own collection of timepieces from Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and little-known brands were snapped up at the highest bid.
The creative director for Louis Vuitton’s men’s collection showed off his sheer taste for luxury and niche with this curated collection.
These are some of our notable, top picks from the auction.
Audemars Piguet Exudes Exclusivity
Audemars Piguet remains a staple on the wrists of athletes and celebrities alike. Despite its popularity, Williams had designs that watch enthusiasts may have never seen Piguet produce.
The first Royal Oak Offshore (ref. 77151ST) is a lot smaller, considered a lady’s watch, and is more colorful than the Royal Oaks we tend to see today. Produced in the '90s, this 30mm watch takes what we think about Audemars Piguet—chunky and muted pieces—and flips it. The dial is a bright orange, surrounded by a stainless steel case, secured by a green leather strap. With Pharrel’s influence in fashion, it's no surprise to see him gravitating towards this model, limited to only 241 pieces. It sold for $12,500.
The Royal Oak (ref. 5402BA) features classic design elements—39mm size, sharp lines, octagonal bezel—but it’s the first solid gold model crafted in 18k yellow gold with 18k white gold folding clasps. Its grey dial with gold hour markers completes the look. Though the final auction price wasn’t revealed, it holds a market value of up to $95,000.
The Royal Oak “Yves Klein” (ref. 56175ST) is a 33mm stainless steel model with a rare blue dial, making it a collector’s grail. It sold for $23,750.
The Royal Oak Concept (ref. 26587TI.OO.D010CA.01) looks like it could transform into a Decepticon. This 44mm openworked titanium piece with a leather strap holds a futuristic design and commands a market value around $250,000.
Finally, the Bamboo “Black Diamond” AP is completely unique. Made of 18k white gold, it’s set with 112 diamonds on the dial. Its bamboo-style case and bracelet made it a standout, and it sold for $28,125.
Vintage and Off-Catalog Rolex Models Take Center Stage
The Rolex watches in Pharrel’s collection were more subtle in design, compared to the bolder aesthetics of Richard Mille and Franck Muller, but with a clear taste for the rare and limited.
Williams clearly favors off-catalog models, such as the Day-Date “Platinum Baguette Lapis Lazuli” (ref. 18366), a piece reserved for top clients. Its factory diamond-set bezel and lapis dial make it incredibly desirable. It sold for $125,000, though the value can range between $80,000–$150,000.
The Air King “Khanjar” (ref. 116900) may seem simple, but its engraved case back links it to a historic collaboration from the 1970s–90s. This rare find sold for $13,750.
The Day-Date “Pinball Full Set” (ref. 18038) features circular hour markers instead of batons—hence the “Pinball” nickname. Made entirely of 18k yellow gold, this under-the-radar flex sold for $22,500.
Patek Philippe Brings Vintage Vibes
Williams’s Patek Philippe picks included some true vintage gems. The Calatrava (ref. 484), a historical model that helped the brand survive the Great Depression, is nearly impossible to find today. It features an 18k yellow gold case and clasp with a black alligator strap, and sold for $15,000.
The Gondolo “Onyx” (ref. 3733.1) has a minimalist, avant-garde look. Made of 18k white gold, with no hour or minute markers and a horizontally ribbed onyx dial, it holds a market value between $20,000–$30,000.
Perhaps the most dazzling is the Celestial (ref. 6104R-001), which mimics the Geneva night sky with rotating moon and star discs over a metallic black dial. It includes a baguette diamond bezel and brown leather strap. Though retailing for around $500,000, it sold for $387,500.
Franck Muller as a Piece of History
Franck Muller, long associated with music icons like Jay Z, had a small but notable presence in the auction. Known for oversized numbers and whimsical dials, these pieces stood out.
The Cintrée Curvex “Baguette” (ref. 1752) features baguette-cut diamonds, a guilloché dial, and Arabic numerals—a classic design that sold for $7,500.
By contrast, the Crazy Hours Color Dreams Tourbillon (ref. 7880T) looks straight out of Alice in Wonderland, with multicolored, non-sequential numerals. Made of 18k white gold and paired with a pink leather strap, it sold for $31,250.
Miscellaneous Picks
No modern collection is complete without a Richard Mille. Williams’s RM030 PSG edition, part of a limited run of 100 pieces, is crafted from Blue TZP-N ceramic and red Quartz TPT. It’s rich in Formula 1 and PSG branding, and sold for $137,500.
Also of note are two timepieces from Japanese microbrand ŌTSUKA LŌTEC, showing Pharrel’s appreciation for indie craftsmanship. The No. 7.5 “Unworn,” inspired by 8mm film cameras, displays the hour and minute via windows, with visible mechanical details. Though typically retailing for around $3,500, it sold for $13,750. The No. 6 “Early Production,” inspired by vintage industrial meters, sold for $12,000.
What Pharrel Williams’s Personal Watch Collection Tells Us About the Secondary Market
Compared to Tom Brady’s watch auction last year, which featured many collectors’ grails, Pharrel’s collection leaned toward the unique and personal—one-of-a-kind pieces reflecting deep taste.
Much like Pharrel himself, these watches are historically significant and design-forward. Each piece tells a story, whether it's about the brand’s evolution or the aesthetic preferences of its era. His vintage Pateks echo a time of understated elegance, while his off-catalog Rolexes prove limited editions are king. And his favoring of Japanese indies hints at growing trends in niche collecting.
Celebrity auctions like this one serve as both market barometers and personal time capsules. Through this sale, we glimpse not only Pharrel’s watchbox—but also what today’s collectors are willing to fight for.
The colors, configurations, and creative risks in this auction were reflections of Pharrel’s eye—and now live on with the bidders who claimed them.
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