Watch Paparazzi

Singer Joe Jonas spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Joe Jonas was recently photographed wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin in 18kt rose gold, reference 26510OR — one of the most technically accomplished watches in the entire Royal Oak lineup and a piece that commands immediate attention from serious collectors.

The ref. 26510OR measures 41mm in diameter and is built around Calibre 2924, a hand-wound flying tourbillon movement that Audemars Piguet developed to run at 21,600 vibrations per hour across a 70-hour power reserve. The movement is finished to Geneva Seal standards, meaning every component — from the beveled bridges to the hand-chamfered wheels — meets strict criteria for surface finishing and precision. The characteristic Royal Oak integrated bracelet and tapisserie dial are rendered here in a warm rose gold palette, giving the watch a presence that is simultaneously understated and unmistakably luxurious.

The Royal Oak family was conceived by Gerald Genta in 1972 as a steel luxury sports watch — a deliberately provocative concept at a time when precious metal dress watches defined haute horlogerie. The Tourbillon variants arrived decades later as the line evolved into a full complications family. The 26510OR represents the tourbillon within that tradition: no date complication, no clutter, just the rotating escapement visible through the open dial as a statement of mechanical purpose.

For collectors, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon ref. 26510OR occupies a distinct tier. Flying tourbillons eliminate the traditional tourbillon bridge from the dial side, creating a cleaner visual effect that is technically more difficult to achieve. The rose gold case amplifies the exclusivity — production numbers are tightly controlled, and waiting lists at authorised dealers are a reality rather than a marketing tactic.

Joe Jonas, whose public watch rotation has included several high-specification references, chose a piece here that signals genuine horological engagement rather than badge collecting. At a grey-market valuation that typically meets or exceeds retail given constrained supply, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon 26510OR is a watch that holds its ground financially and aesthetically.