Singer Maluma spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Maluma, the Colombian singer and global reggaeton phenomenon, was recently spotted wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin in 18k pink gold, reference 26516OR.ZZ.1220OR.01 — a watch that carries an official retail price of $195,430 and represents one of the most technically demanding expressions in the entire Royal Oak catalogue.

The ref. 26516OR is built around Calibre 2924, a manually wound flying tourbillon movement with a thickness of just 3.95mm, contributing to an overall case height of 8.1mm — remarkable for a complication of this order. The 41mm pink gold case wears the iconic Royal Oak octagonal bezel, here entirely paved with baguette-cut diamonds, a treatment that transforms Gerald Genta's industrial-inspired architecture into something overtly precious. The brown dial, with its subtly textured "Grande Tapisserie" pattern, provides a warm, earthy counterpoint to the cold brilliance of the stones and the blush warmth of the gold.

Within the Royal Oak family, the Extra-Thin Tourbillon occupies a specific and respected niche. Audemars Piguet introduced the flying tourbillon to the Royal Oak line as part of its ongoing effort to demonstrate that thin-case haute horlogerie and bold sports-luxury design are not mutually exclusive. The result is a watch that collectors regard as both a legitimate mechanical achievement and a design statement — not merely a jewelled showpiece. The absence of a cage obscuring the tourbillon cage from view gives the movement an open, almost levitating quality on the wrist.

Maluma has built a public persona closely associated with luxury and high fashion, and his horological choices consistently reflect that. He has been spotted with significant Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille references before, but the 26516OR represents a step into true grand complication territory — the kind of watch that resonates with collectors well beyond the celebrity sphere.

On the grey market, heavily set Royal Oak Tourbillon references in precious metal trade at or above retail given their rarity and limited production allocations. The 26516OR is no exception, and demand from both serious collectors and high-profile buyers in the Latin American and US markets keeps availability tight. For Maluma, it is a wrist statement that speaks a precise horological language.