Watch Paparazzi

Singer Joe Jonas spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Joe Jonas was recently photographed wearing a watch that most collectors will never see in the metal: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin in rose gold, reference 26522OR.OO.1220OR.01. The sighting confirms Jonas's appetite for haute horlogerie that goes well beyond the entry points of the Royal Oak family.

The 26522OR is built around Calibre 2924, a hand-wound flying tourbillon movement measuring just 2.75mm in thickness — a figure that places it among the thinnest tourbillon ebauches in the industry. The 41mm rose gold case, engineered to AP's signature octagonal bezel architecture first conceived by Gérald Genta in 1972, houses the complication at 6 o'clock without sacrificing the dial's clean geometry. The blue sunburst dial carries the 'Evolutive Tapisserie' guilloche, a graduated relief pattern that shifts in density from the centre outward — a decoration unique to this tourbillon reference and absent from standard Royal Oak dials.

The Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin line sits at the apex of the Royal Oak collection, representing Le Brassus's commitment to combining the model's industrial-sports aesthetic with grand complication watchmaking. The ref. 26522OR was introduced as part of AP's ongoing effort to push the limits of case slimness without compromising structural rigidity in precious metal — a genuine technical challenge given the softness of 18k rose gold.

For collectors, the 26522OR occupies a rarefied tier. Production is severely limited, allocation is tightly controlled, and the reference commands immediate attention on the secondary market. The combination of a flying tourbillon, rose gold, and the exclusive Evolutive Tapisserie dial makes this a three-factor desirability equation that few AP references can match.

Joe Jonas has established a credible horological profile over the years, regularly appearing with serious references from AP and other maisons rather than defaulting to purely logo-driven choices. Wearing the 26522OR signals genuine engagement with the upper register of watchmaking. On the grey market, this reference trades well above its already substantial retail figure, reflecting sustained demand that outpaces limited supply.