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royalSpotted November 2022

Royal Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

royal Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet 16204ST
Who & what: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' Extra-Thin 50th Anniversary Openworked Stainless Steel Reference 16204ST

Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman and a figure well known in Gulf royal circles for his appreciation of serious horology, was recently photographed wearing Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin 50th Anniversary Openworked reference 16204ST — a watch that sold out almost immediately upon its 2022 debut and has rarely been seen outside the hands of those with privileged access to the brand.

The 16204ST is built around the calibre 7121, the openworked evolution of the ultra-thin calibre 2121 — itself a descendant of the Jaeger-LeCoultre 920 — that has powered the Royal Oak Jumbo since Gerald Genta sketched the octagonal bezel on a napkin in 1972. At just 8.1mm thick, the case maintains the exact proportions of the original reference 5402ST, measuring 39mm in diameter with the characteristic integrated bracelet and eight-bolt bezel in stainless steel. Skeletonising the movement without compromising structural integrity or the watch's remarkable thinness required Audemars Piguet's craftspeople to hand-finish every bridge and plate to Geneva Seal standards, a process that significantly increases production time per unit.

From a collector standpoint, the 16204ST occupies a unique position in Royal Oak history. It is simultaneously a faithful heir to the 'Jumbo' bloodline and a showcase of contemporary hand-finishing mastery. The combination of skeleton architecture with Extra-Thin dimensions is genuinely rare in the industry, and Audemars Piguet's decision to deploy it specifically for the 50th anniversary signals the reference's intended permanence in the marque's canon rather than as a disposable limited edition.

Sheikh Ammar's affinity for significant timepieces is consistent with his public profile — he follows Gulf royal tradition of wearing watches that carry both aesthetic weight and horological substance. The 16204ST, appearing on his wrist publicly, underscores the piece's standing as the prestige Jumbo variant of its generation.

At an official list price of approximately $90,400, the Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin Openworked 50th Anniversary 16204ST was always positioned at the upper register of the stainless steel Royal Oak range. On the secondary market, allocation scarcity has pushed authenticated examples well above retail, confirming its status as one of the more sought-after modern Audemars Piguet references currently in circulation.

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