Trae Young’s taste in watches doesn’t always match the sparkle his nickname suggests. The Washington Wizards guard prefers understated designs, but “Ice Trae” has given him a reason to embrace diamonds.
Young explained that shift while showing Robertino Altieri, CEO of WatchGuys, a watch and jewelry collection worth an estimated $2 million-plus on My Collection.
“I'm more like a classy guy, more like plain Jane. But obviously, with the nickname, you kind of have to have some type of flashy thing. So I've gotten some things and some more iced-out watches,” Young said.
Quavo gave Young the nickname after he arrived in Atlanta. Their connection followed Young’s trips to Migos shows during his school years, adding a musical influence to a collection that also reflects his admiration for Jay-Z.
The four-time All-Star credits the rapper for his interest in Hublot. His own collecting journey, though, began with a G-Shock he purchased around age 10 at an Oklahoma Best Buy.
Which watches mean the most to Trae Young?
Young identifies his custom blue-diamond Pristine as his favorite. WatchGuys says similar designs start around $250,000. Another Pristine in his rotation features black gems, with Altieri describing it as one of only 18 worldwide.
The collection also carries meaning beyond its price tags.
Article Continues BelowHis wife, Shelby, celebrated two All-Star appearances with engraved Rolex watches. One includes her name alongside their children’s names, giving Young a family connection every time he wears it.
Young intends to leave his collection to his children, and his son already enjoys examining the watches.
He still has room for another brand. After sampling a rose-gold Patek Philippe Aquanaut, Young announced his next collecting goal: “Right now I need to add Patek to my collection.”