Watch Paparazzi

Singer Shawn Mendes spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Shawn Mendes, the Canadian singer-songwriter known for chart-topping pop anthems, was recently spotted wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin in stainless steel with a blue dial — reference 15202ST. The sighting places Mendes firmly among the growing cohort of younger entertainers who have moved well beyond entry-level luxury and into serious horological territory.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15202ST is widely considered the most historically faithful iteration of Gerald Genta's landmark 1972 design. Housed in a 39mm stainless steel case with the iconic octagonal bezel secured by eight hexagonal screws, it measures just 8.1mm in thickness — a direct consequence of the movement inside. The Calibre 2121, developed jointly by Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Vacheron Constantin, stands only 3.05mm tall and delivers a 40-hour power reserve at 19,800 vph. The blue 'Grande Tapisserie' dial, with its precisely stamped hobnail pattern, catches light in a way that photographs cannot fully convey.

Among collectors, the 15202ST occupies a rare position: it is simultaneously a production watch and a historical artefact. AP discontinued it in 2022 to make way for the 50th-anniversary 16202ST, which uses the newer Calibre 7121. That discontinuation has only sharpened demand for existing 15202 examples, particularly in steel with the blue dial — the combination most closely aligned with the original 5402ST of 1972. For many enthusiasts, the 15202ST represents the last unbroken line to Genta's original vision.

Mendes has shown a consistent interest in considered, understated watches rather than flashy statement pieces, and the Royal Oak 15202ST fits that profile precisely. It carries enormous prestige without overt ostentation — exactly the kind of watch that rewards those who know what they are looking at.

At UK list price, the 15202ST was priced around £17,100 before its discontinuation, translating to approximately $21,500 USD at retail. On the grey market, demand has pushed steel blue-dial examples considerably higher, with recent transactions regularly exceeding $40,000 USD. For a watch that AP sold without a waiting list for much of its production life, the secondary market correction has been dramatic.