Google’s Pixel devices are infamous for leaking early, but it’s never like this. According to an X post from Gearbox Entertainment Company founder Randy Pitchford (the studio behind the Borderlands game series), the Pixel Watch 5 was found by a friend of his while scuba diving near the Caribbean island of St. Martin.
A friend of mine found this watch a few days ago ~underwater~ when he was scuba diving near the island of St. Martin. He noted that the reverse of the watch indicates that it is a Google Pixel 5, which has not yet been announced, let alone released. It seems to be fine. The face… pic.twitter.com/Mnenov1sFE
— Randy Pitchford (@DuvalMagic) May 31, 2026
Pitchford’s post — published on Sunday — includes two photos that show the front and back of the device. The top-right of the back of the watch shows “Pixel Watch 5” in faint text, but the watch otherwise looks similar to last year’s Pixel Watch 4.
Pitchford says in the post that the purpose of publicizing this was to help return the device to the Google employee who would be most appropriate. In an updated post later on Sunday, Pitchford says: “Thanks to the magic of the internet, I am now in touch with the owner and we’ve arranged for its return.”
CNET reached out to Google for comment but we haven’t received a response.
While we’ve certainly heard of devices turning up in the wild ahead of their official debut, it’s usually in a location like a bar.
But if this is a Pixel Watch 5, why was it in the ocean? Will that next watch have its own feature that supports scuba diving like the Apple Watch Ultra, but slipped off during testing?
When I shared this report with my colleague, Vanessa Hand Orellana, who just reviewed Google’s new Fitbit Air fitness tracker, she said it raises so many questions.
Watch this: Fitbit Air Review: Affordable, Minimalist Health Tracking | All Things Mobile
“If it all checks out, this would be a crazy coincidence,” Orellana said.
This possible ocean discovery comes just as we enter the summer season, which is around when we’d expect Google to unveil its next line of Pixel phones and watches. Last year’s Pixel 10 reveal took place in August, and it’s quite possible that Google’s putting its possible Pixel 11 phones and Pixel Watch 5 through its final product tests ahead of that unveiling.
Until Google officially weighs in, Pixel Watch fans could take a closer look at Pitchford’s photos and see clues, just in case this is indeed the Pixel Watch 5.
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