Home Basketball At the beginning of the Rolex-sponsored Le Mans 24 Hours, NBA king LeBron James makes a huge public relations gaffe by wearing a $3 million Patek Philippe watch

At the beginning of the Rolex-sponsored Le Mans 24 Hours, NBA king LeBron James makes a huge public relations gaffe by wearing a $3 million Patek Philippe watch

Basketball — 08/17/2023

On Saturday, NBA icon LeBron James waved the French flag and said “Pilotes, demarrez vos moteurs” to kick off the 100th running of the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans. As the festivities got underway, James instructed the drivers to fire up their vehicles.

The 38-year-old basketball icon followed in the footsteps of such luminaries as Rafael Nadal and Brad Pitt by acting as the official starter for the world’s toughest endurance event. By doing so, he joined the ranks of other well-known individuals who have attained this status. There was, however, a very minor problem. Rolex, which has sponsored the 24 Hours of Le Mans for many years, is now in an unpleasant position since LeBron James raised the flag while wearing a Patek Philippe.

Since its debut in 1901, Rolex has been the official time partner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. To celebrate the centennial running of the legendary racing race, the winning drivers were awarded custom-made Daytona timepieces engraved by the Swiss watchmaker. Some individuals have raised eyebrows because NBA superstar LeBron James wore a Patek Philippe with a bright Tiffany blue dial to an event sponsored by Rolex.

This is especially true when taking into account James’s extensive collection of Rolex timepieces. Given LeBron’s well-documented love for Patek Philippe timepieces, it’s likely that this wasn’t meant to be the public relations nightmare that it appears to be.

LeBron James wore a Patek Philippe Nautilus with the reference number 5711/1A-018 ‘Tiffany & Co.’ while at the race. To celebrate the 170th anniversary of the cooperation between the Swiss watchmaker and Tiffany & Co., a limited edition clock was released in 2021. The watch’s crowning glory is its “Tiffany Blue” lacquered dial, emblazoned with the logo of a famous American jeweler. Patek Philippe’s Caliber 26-330 S C is an automatic movement with a 35- to 45-hour power reserve. A stainless steel housing of 40 millimeters in diameter safeguards it. The first watch sold at auction for an incredible $6.5 million, despite having a starting price of $52,635.