Singer Ed Sheeran spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Ed Sheeran has been photographed wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon, reference 26560IO — a timepiece that represents the outer boundary of what the Le Brassus manufacture is willing to attempt within the iconic Royal Oak architecture. The sighting, shared via Sheeran's own Instagram handle @teddysphotos, confirms the singer's continued appetite for technically substantial horology rather than mere trophy pieces.

The Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon ref. 26560IO is powered by the in-house calibre 2954, a hand-wound movement delivering a flying tourbillon at six o'clock, a second time zone via a jumping GMT hand, and a generous 70-hour power reserve. The 44mm forged carbon and ceramic case — the 'IO' suffix denoting its black ceramic and titanium construction — is distinctly aggressive in proportion, a deliberate departure from the original Gerald Genta octagonal sportsman design of 1972. The open-worked dial exposes the full mechanical architecture, with sapphire bridges replacing traditional plates to dramatic visual effect.

The Royal Oak Concept line has occupied a singular position in AP's catalogue since its debut in 2002, functioning as a laboratory showcase for complications and materials that would be considered excessive on a standard Royal Oak. The GMT Tourbillon iteration is among the most desirable references in the Concept family, combining two legitimately useful complications — world time and a tourbillon regulator — within a case that holds its own aesthetically against far simpler sports watches. Collectors regard the Concept series as serious horology dressed in avant-garde clothing, not the reverse.

Sheeran has assembled a watch collection that reflects genuine enthusiasm for the craft. Previous sightings have included other high-complications and limited references, suggesting his acquisitions are informed rather than incidental. The 26560IO fits that pattern precisely: it is not an entry point into AP, it is a considered destination.

At a UK list price of £175,000, the Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon ref. 26560IO sits in territory where production is limited and waitlists are real. On the secondary market, strong demand from collectors and the cachet of Audemars Piguet's Concept DNA keep values firm, with grey-market pricing frequently exceeding retail for desirable references in this family.