Entrepreneur Mohammed bin Sulayem spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Mohammed bin Sulayem, President of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and accomplished rally driver from the United Arab Emirates, was recently photographed wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in blue ceramic. The sighting captures the 41mm sports watch on his wrist during a formal public appearance, paired with business attire—a notable choice for a perpetual calendar complication typically reserved for collectors seeking maximum horological complexity.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Ref. 26574CE represents one of watchmaking's most demanding mechanical achievements. The case comprises blue ceramic—a proprietary material developed by Audemars Piguet that resists scratching and maintains colour stability far superior to traditional titanium or steel cases. The dial features the Royal Oak's signature integrated bracelet and tapisserie pattern, while housing sub-dials displaying the perpetual calendar function: day of the week, month, date, week number, moon phase, and leap-year indicator. The automatic calibre 3120 calibre provides a forty-hour power reserve and delivers this mechanical calculation entirely through gearing and cam mechanics, with no electronic intervention.

Water resistance reaches 20 metres—modest by modern standards yet consistent with the Royal Oak's original 1972 design brief, which prioritized prestige over extreme durability. The perpetual calendar function distinguishes the Royal Oak from simpler annual calendars; it requires no adjustment until the year 2100, making it a genuine collector's investment rather than a temporary complication. The blue ceramic variant was introduced as a limited production run distinct from earlier titanium and white gold versions, elevating rarity within an already exclusive reference.

Bin Sulayem's choice reflects broader trends among ultra-high-net-worth automotive executives toward haute horlogerie sports watches. Unlike pure dress watches, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar merges mechanical virtuosity with the integrated-bracelet design language that defines contemporary luxury sports tool watches. The reference carries no official retail price disclosure; grey-market examples typically trade between $150,000 and $180,000 USD depending on condition and service history.

The pairing underscores how perpetual calendar watches have transcended pure collector territory to become status symbols among global business leaders navigating complex international motorsport governance and automotive industries.