Politician Mohammed Ben Sulayem spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, was recently photographed wearing an extraordinarily rare blue ceramic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar during an official engagement. The timepiece represents one of only 15 pieces produced exclusively for the Middle East market, with a direct connection to the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai—a fitting choice for the head of world motorsport governance.

The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in blue ceramic is built on Audemars Piguet's 41mm octagonal case, executed entirely in scratch-resistant blue ceramic—a material the manufacture has refined since 2012. Beneath the cobalt-blue dial sits Calibre 5135, the manufacture's in-house perpetual calendar movement containing 489 components and 40 jewels. This self-winding mechanism displays the date, day, month, and moon phase across integrated subdials, with a perpetual calendar programme accurate until the year 2100. Water resistance reaches 20 metres, appropriate for a dress sports watch designed for boardroom rather than ocean.

What elevates this particular Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar is its material exclusivity. The blue ceramic case, paired with a matching blue ceramic bracelet and integrated bezel, creates a cohesive visual statement impossible to achieve in traditional precious metals. The perpetual calendar complication itself remains one of watchmaking's most complex integrated mechanisms, requiring mathematical precision and micro-mechanical sophistication that justifies both the technical achievement and the rarity constraint. Limited production runs—especially regional exclusives like this 15-piece Middle East edition—have become hallmarks of Audemars Piguet's modern collector strategy.

Ben Sulayem's choice aligns with his position stewarding motorsport's technical innovation. The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar embodies the same marriage of precision engineering and luxury that defines Formula 1, where milliseconds and mechanical excellence separate winners from competitors. Wearing this watch signals not merely wealth but engagement with horological mastery.

Retail pricing for Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar models in standard materials typically ranges from $200,000 to $280,000 USD depending on configuration. Regional exclusives in limited ceramic editions command significant premiums on the secondary market, often reaching €350,000+ (approximately $385,000 USD) when available for sale. Current availability remains restricted to Audemars Piguet boutiques, with waitlist periods extending multiple years for non-allocated collectors.