Watch Paparazzi

Royal Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

A recent photograph of Prince Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and son of former Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, reveals a quietly exceptional choice on his wrist: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 38mm in white gold, a limited edition of precisely 100 pieces. The sighting is notable not merely for the watch's rarity but for what it signals about the Prince's collecting sensibility — an inclination toward understated exclusivity over conspicuous display.

The reference 26715BC.OO.1356BC.01 is built around the smaller 38mm Royal Oak Chronograph case in 18-carat white gold, a size that has gained significant traction among discerning collectors who find the original 41mm format overwearing for everyday use. The signature octagonal bezel, secured by eight hexagonal white gold screws, frames an ice-blue dial executed in AP's hallmark Grande Tapisserie petit-carré pattern. Three subdials — hours, minutes, and running seconds — are rendered in a matching light blue, while the outer tachymeter zone adopts a deeper midnight blue, lending the dial a layered, almost atmospheric depth. The integrated brushed and polished white gold bracelet with AP's signature deployant clasp completes the ensemble.

Powering the watch is Calibre 2385, a column-wheel integrated chronograph movement with 40 hours of power reserve, oscillating at 21,600 vph. The movement is visible through the exhibition caseback and represents AP's dedication to in-house manufacture even at this more compact diameter — no mean feat in a 38mm package.

From a collector standpoint, white gold Royal Oak Chronographs occupy a specific and coveted niche. The combination of the cooler precious metal with the ice-blue dial creates a monochromatic coherence that yellow or rose gold cannot replicate. The 100-piece limitation places this squarely in the category of watches that rarely surface at auction, and when they do, command significant premiums.

Prince Joaan's watch collection is known to span multiple prestigious maisons, but this AP sighting underscores a preference for pieces with genuine technical and aesthetic substance. At a retail of $77,500, the watch was never aimed at casual buyers — its presence on a royal wrist is entirely fitting.