Singer Nicky Jam spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Nicky Jam, the Puerto Rican reggaeton and Latin trap icon, was recently spotted wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph in black ceramic — reference 26240CE — one of the most talked-about releases in the Swiss manufacture's recent history and a centerpiece of the Royal Oak's 50th anniversary collection unveiled in 2022.

The ref. 26240CE houses the caliber 4401, Audemars Piguet's first fully in-house integrated flyback chronograph movement — a significant engineering milestone for a brand that, for decades, relied on modified ebauches for its chronograph complications. The column-wheel, vertical clutch movement beats at 4 Hz, offers a 70-hour power reserve, and is finished to the exacting standards collectors expect from Le Brassus. The 41mm case is crafted entirely from black ceramic, a material requiring substantially greater machining complexity than stainless steel or titanium, lending the watch a stealthy, monolithic presence that contrasts sharply with the Royal Oak's traditional polished-and-brushed aesthetic.

From a collector standpoint, the 26240CE occupies rare air. Released as part of the Royal Oak 50th anniversary series, it was produced in limited numbers and allocated almost exclusively to top-tier AP boutique clients and long-standing collector relationships. The full ceramic execution — dial, bezel, case and bracelet all rendered in black — distinguishes it from the more widely seen steel 26240ST and makes secondary market acquisitions genuinely difficult. Grey market prices have climbed to approximately $245,000, reflecting roughly 3.3 times the official retail of $74,600, a premium that underscores just how tight supply remains.

Nicky Jam has built a well-documented affinity for serious horology over the years, regularly appearing with upper-tier AP and Patek Philippe pieces. His choice of the 26240CE signals more than aesthetic preference — this is a watch that requires connections as much as capital, and wearing it communicates fluency in the collector's market, not just purchasing power.

For buyers hoping to acquire a Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26240CE through official channels, waitlists remain essentially closed at most ADs. The grey market at $245,000 is the realistic entry point today, and given the continued cultural momentum around the Royal Oak platform and the 50th anniversary significance baked into this reference, further appreciation is a reasonable expectation.