Watch Paparazzi

Artist Cash XO spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Cash XO, music producer and founder of XO Music, was recently spotted wearing one of the rarest Royal Oaks in Audemars Piguet's current catalogue — the Royal Oak Extra-Thin Openworked in black ceramic, reference 15416CE. The sighting places him firmly among a small circle of collectors with access to a piece that most buyers, regardless of budget, simply cannot acquire through official retail channels.

The 15416CE is built around the Calibre 3132, a self-winding skeletonised movement derived from the iconic 2121 ultra-thin base. At just 3.05mm thick, the movement itself is an engineering landmark, and the openworked execution — with bridges and plates hand-chamfered and decorated to Geneva standards — demands significantly more artisan time than a standard-dialed Royal Oak. The 41mm case in black ceramic adds another layer of complexity: unlike steel or gold, ceramic of this density requires diamond-tipped tooling to achieve the alternating brushed and polished surfaces that define the Royal Oak's signature aesthetic.

From a collector standpoint, the black ceramic Royal Oak Openworked occupies rare territory. Ceramic Royal Oaks have historically been produced in limited numbers, and the combination of the open-worked dial, ultra-thin movement, and black ceramic case makes the 15416CE one of the most technically and aesthetically layered references in the modern AP lineup. It is not a watch that appears frequently at auction, which in part explains the extraordinary premium it commands on the secondary market.

Cash XO has built XO Music into a significant force in the industry, and his taste in watches reflects a collector's eye rather than simply a luxury consumer's reflex. Choosing the 15416CE over more visible or accessible Royal Oak references signals genuine horological engagement — this is not the watch you buy because it's recognisable on a stage; it's the watch you buy because you understand what's inside it.

With a list price of $84,300 and current grey-market valuations approaching $468,000, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Openworked 15416CE trades at roughly 5.5 times retail — one of the steepest premiums in the brand's entire portfolio. For collectors, that number reflects genuine scarcity rather than manufactured hype.