Artist Cash XO spotted wearing a 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.