A friend of Randy Pitchford, co-founder of Gearbox, found a Google Pixel Watch 5 underwater near the island of St. Martin in the northeastern Caribbean while scuba diving, Pitchford said on May 31, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. The watch bore markings identifying it as the Pixel Watch 5, a model not yet announced or released by Google [1, 2, 3].
Photos shared by Pitchford show the watch includes a heart rate sensor, ultra-wideband (UWB) chip, pulse sensor, skin temperature tracking, and carries an IP68 water resistance rating [1, 3]. Although the device’s battery appeared drained, it was still displaying the correct time when found [2, 3].
Pitchford posted images of the watch on Twitter/X on May 31 and asked for help locating the owner: “If you find something that isn’t yours, pay it forward and try to return it to its rightful owner,” he wrote [1]. He later confirmed he is in contact with the owner and arrangements are underway for its return [1, 3].
The incident has drawn comparisons to the 2010 leak of the iPhone 4 prototype lost by an Apple engineer, fueling speculation online about whether the Pixel Watch 5 story is genuine or a marketing leak [2]. Google has not commented on the find [1, 2, 3].
The Pixel Watch 5 is expected to be officially announced by Google at its annual Pixel event planned for August or September 2026 [3].
On June 1, 2026, Chinese gaming site 3DMGame reported the find and published detailed photos, adding to the buzz around the device [2]. The next major development will likely be Google's official announcement later this summer.
