Lil Baby Exposed for Wearing a $400K Fake Patek Philippe — and He Responded Fast

In September 2021, rapper Lil Baby found himself at the center of a viral jewelry controversy. After proudly posting his new Patek Philippe 40th Anniversary Nautilus on Instagram — reportedly valued at $400,000 — fans and watch experts immediately pointed out something was off.

Within hours, luxury watch connoisseurs and forums like @fakewatchbusta and Horology House analyzed the post and declared the piece a high-quality fake. The subdial spacing, date window, and case proportions weren’t consistent with a real Patek.

Lil Baby was embarrassed — but owned up to it. He had purchased the watch from a high-end NYC-based jeweler, and the very next day, he took action.

His Response

“@rafaelloandco y’all charged me 400K for a fake watch 🤯. I need my bread back!”
— Lil Baby on Instagram

He posted a video returning the watch and demanding a refund. The jeweler, Rafaello & Co., issued a public apology, refunded the full amount, and gave him four diamond rings as a gift to make things right.

Why It Went Viral

• The watch in question was a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A-018 Tiffany Dial, a rare collab model

• Only 170 pieces were ever made

• Lil Baby believed he had one of them — but it was impossible to acquire without Patek's approval

The incident exposed just how easy it is for even celebrities to be misled — and sparked discussions about the importance of authentication, even at the highest levels.

Industry Impact

After the incident:

• Watch buyers became more cautious about boutique jewelers

• Patek Philippe collectors pushed for better authentication tools

• Jewelers began including certification paperwork and live verification videos during high-end sales

• Hip hop artists started consulting horologists before purchasing six-figure timepieces