Vogue and Audemars Piguet

On Tuesday evening, as New York Fashion Week wound down, Audemars Piguet hosted an elegant evening in a downtown penthouse to mark an exciting chapter: the unveiling of the new Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph ‘Serena Williams’ Limited Edition—a 38 mm timepiece designed in collaboration with the multi-faceted athlete, who has been an ambassador of the brand since 2014

For Williams’s first-ever co-designed wristwatch, the elite sportswoman, entrepreneur and producer endeavoured to bring both grace and performance to the forefront. “I wanted it to feel personal—and something that anyone could wear,” she said.

The resulting design combines ethereal, iridescent pink-hued mother-of-pearl and a sleek bracelet strap in white ceramic—a material that notoriously requires the utmost precision, skill, and craft to perfect.
“I wanted the softness of mother-of-pearl. It's a rare and precious stone that you don't see everywhere,” Williams told Vogue. “But with ceramic, you can layer it, you can hit it; it's tough. When we set out to create something, we wanted to mesh those sides of my own personality together."

To capture this duality and functionality, Williams and Audemars Piguet envisaged a watch that could be worn two different ways. As revealed at the event, the watch will come with an additional pink strap, as the 23-time Grand Slam champ famously prefers to wear her go-to Royal Oak Offshore with customised rubber straps while on the court.

On the evening, in a nod to the white-and-pink colour scheme, Williams and her stylist chose a fitted asymmetrical dress by Et Ochs and suede pumps by Gianvito Rossi—finished with a pearlescent manicure that Williams proudly shared she had done herself.

Serena Williams .

To toast the collaboration, Anna Wintour, Condé Nast's Chief Content Officer and Vogue’s Global Editorial Director, joined the celebration, arriving straight off the heels of Fashion Week. "It's been nearly two weeks, but the ringing in my ears from Serena's epic doubles match at the US Open hasn't faded,” Wintour told the room. “As thrilling as it is to see Serena on the court, we all know that she's so much more than a tennis champion. She's an incredible businesswoman, a mother, an author, a fashion icon, and a role model for women everywhere. And now she even gets to have her own watch.”

Ilaria Resta, Chief Executive Officer at Audemars Piguet, echoed these sentiments, adding: “Serena has the vision, class, imagination, and creativity to partner with us and create a piece that is right in the history of the Royal Oak. This watch doesn't require any explanation, because when you see it, you realise how much of Serena is in it."

At the party, Williams also reunited with Colombian chart-topper J. Balvin, who recently featured in a campaign for the timepiece alongside Williams and Teyana Taylor. An avid watch collector and client of Audemars Piguet for almost a decade, he poignantly noted: "When you're in a good place in your life—that's when time moves the fastest. You must always remember to find a balance, and find time to be grateful and enjoy every moment.

J Balvin .

Among those supporting Williams was her sister, Isha Price, underscoring the campaign’s theme that no one shapes time alone. The night’s guest list epitomised the intersection of fashion, sport, media, and entertainment. In the foyer, photographers gathered around newlyweds Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordyn Woods, who were joined by Woods’s sister, Jodie, and mom, Elizabeth. Olympian Simone Biles and Oscar winner Ejae warmly greeted and chatted with their respective fans. Models Isabel Goulart and Natasha Poly exchanged outfit notes. Electronic musician Rampa, Sofi Tukker's Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern, and rapper Gunna were among those enjoying the sounds of Kitty Ca$h. Even restaurateur Mario Carbone and celebrity publicist Cait Bailey stopped by, fielding congratulations from the crowd after tying the knot less than 48 hours earlier. In another area of the penthouse, Mark Ronson, Jordan Clarkson, and La La Anthony visited the portrait studio overseen by Hunter Abrams.

As the party drew to a close and guests headed off into the night, Williams reflected on the value of time. After returning to the sport and enjoying shows and presentations during NYFW, the mom of two was looking forward to slowing down—at least momentarily. "I like cooking. I try to do it at least five days a week with my kids because it makes me feel strong and powerful as a mom. Once you hit your 40s, you blink and the years start going so fast. I think when you're younger, you take time for granted. Time is of the essence now—it's so much more valuable.”