Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Casemiro spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Casemiro arrived at the pre-match press conference ahead of Brazil's fixture against Switzerland wearing considerably more on his wrist than anyone in the room was likely to discuss — the 18K pink gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' Extra-Thin Open Work, reference 16204OR, a watch that commands attention long before its wearer opens his mouth.

The 16204OR is built around the Calibre 3132, a manually wound skeletonized movement derived from the legendary Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 920 architecture that underpinned the original Royal Oak. At 3.05mm thick, the movement is a feat of miniaturization, and in open-worked form every anglage, every beveled edge, and every polished sink is exposed to view — a showcase of hand-finishing discipline that AP's Le Brassus atelier takes seriously. The 39mm pink gold case measures just 8.1mm from crystal to caseback, preserving the flat, almost architectural silhouette Gérald Genta drew in 1972. The integrated bracelet, tapisserie dial skeleton, and octagonal bezel secured by eight hexagonal screws are all executed in 18K pink gold.

The Royal Oak 'Jumbo' in its solid-dial guise, the 15202, is already one of the most sought references in modern watchmaking. The 16204OR takes that desirability further with the open-work complication, which dramatically increases production complexity and limits availability. Pink gold adds warmth and rarity relative to steel or white gold variants, and collectors have responded accordingly — grey-market prices have settled well above the $400,000 mark, representing a premium of nearly four times the official retail figure.

Casemiro is one of the more watch-literate footballers on the circuit, with a documented affinity for high-complications and grand maison pieces. Spotting the 16204OR at a press conference — not a gala or red carpet — suggests genuine daily wear attachment rather than a curated appearance piece, which only adds to its credibility as a serious collector's choice.

At a list price of $115,000, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 16204OR is already a significant acquisition. On the secondary market, authenticated examples in unworn condition are consistently achieving figures north of $430,000, making it one of the stronger stores of value in contemporary horology. For a watch that doubles as a movement exhibition, that trajectory looks far from finished.