Watch Paparazzi

Royal Mohammed Bin Salman spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Mohammed Bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and one of the most closely watched figures in global geopolitics, was recently photographed wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Skeleton in stainless steel, reference 15305ST. The sighting is notable not because royalty wears fine watches — that is expected — but because the piece chosen speaks to a specific and informed collector sensibility rather than simple conspicuous display.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15305ST houses the in-house Calibre 3120, an automatic movement with a 60-hour power reserve, 280 components, and a 21,600 vph beat rate. In skeleton form, the bridges and mainplate are pared back to their structural minimum, then hand-finished with AP's exacting anglage — beveled and polished edges that catch light at precise angles. The 39mm stainless steel case retains the Gerald Genta-designed octagonal bezel with its eight hexagonal screws, introduced in 1972 as a luxury sports watch that redefined the category permanently.

The reference 15305ST occupies a particular position in the Royal Oak family: it is neither the entry-level 15500ST nor the ultra-complicated grande complication territory, but rather a piece that rewards the wearer's knowledge of movement craft. Collectors regard it as the purest expression of what makes a Royal Oak desirable — the interplay between architecture and mechanics, made visible. The skeleton execution on a mid-size Royal Oak has historically attracted buyers who understand finishing as the primary value proposition.

For MBS, whose collection reportedly includes highly complicated Pateks and Richard Milles, the 15305ST reads as a deliberate, understated selection. Stainless steel rather than gold, 39mm rather than a statement-sized case — it is the watch of someone who knows exactly what they are wearing and why.

On the market, the Royal Oak Skeleton 15305ST carries an official retail price in the region of $38,000–$42,000 USD depending on market. Grey-market demand for skeleton Royal Oaks has remained firm, with examples trading above retail consistently. Availability through authorized dealers remains constrained, sustaining secondary premiums.