Singer Ultimo spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Niccolò Morriconi, known to millions as Ultimo, was recently spotted wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Ceramic, reference 26579CE — a watch that sits comfortably at the intersection of haute horlogerie and contemporary cool. The sighting is notable not just for the celebrity wearing it, but for the specific reference chosen: this is not the entry-level Royal Oak, but one of the manufacture's most mechanically demanding executions of the iconic silhouette.

The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Ref. 26579CE was introduced as part of AP's broader push to bring the perpetual calendar complication into the modern Royal Oak lineup in ceramic. The 41mm black ceramic case — produced using a sintering process that makes it significantly harder than steel — houses the Calibre 5134, an ultraflat self-winding movement measuring just 4.31mm in height. That movement displays day, date, month, moon phase, and leap year in a fully integrated layout on a blue grande tapisserie dial, with a perpetual calendar mechanism so precisely engineered it requires no date correction until March 1, 2100.

From a collector's standpoint, the 26579CE occupies a compelling position in the Royal Oak hierarchy. Ceramic Royal Oaks have historically attracted strong secondary market premiums, and the perpetual calendar complication — paired with the contemporary 41mm sizing — makes this reference especially desirable among serious buyers who want more than just an iconic case shape. It represents what AP does best: complications executed with finishing quality that matches the technical ambition.

Ultimo's affinity for the piece fits his profile. The Roman singer-songwriter has spent the last several years building one of the most significant careers in contemporary Italian music — selling out stadiums across Italy, releasing a chart-topping collaboration with Ed Sheeran in 2022, and cultivating an image that mixes emotional authenticity with sharp aesthetic choices. A reference like the 26579CE reads as a considered purchase, not a flex.

At retail, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Ceramic 26579CE is priced at approximately $98,100 USD. On the grey market, demand for ceramic AP perpetual calendars keeps values elevated, with examples trading at or above retail depending on condition and provenance — a reflection of both the model's desirability and the broader scarcity of AP allocations.