Watch Paparazzi

Singer Nicky Jam spotted wearing 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.