Royal Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud spotted wearing a Chopard

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who has ruled the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since January 2015, was recently photographed wearing the Chopard Imperiale in stainless steel, reference 388531-3003 — a choice that speaks volumes precisely because of its understatement on a wrist with effectively unlimited horological options.

The Chopard Imperiale ref. 388531-3003 is a 40mm stainless steel automatic wristwatch powered by a COSC-certified self-winding movement — Chopard's calibre based on an ETA architecture — delivering approximately 42 hours of power reserve at roughly 28,800 vph. The case pairs brushed and polished surfaces with an integrated link bracelet whose tapering profile gives the piece its signature silhouette. The dial on this reference presents a clean, symmetrical layout with applied hour markers and a date aperture at three o'clock, finished in a way that sits comfortably between formal and casual wear. Water resistance is rated to 50 metres.

Launched in the early 1990s, the Imperiale line was Chopard's answer to the integrated-bracelet luxury sports watch category pioneered by Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe in the preceding decade. While it has never achieved the cult status of the Royal Oak or Nautilus, the Imperiale has maintained a loyal following for its genuine Swiss manufacture credentials, balanced proportions, and the Chopard family's continued independent ownership — a point that resonates with collectors wary of conglomerate-driven production priorities.

For a sitting monarch of a Gulf state, the Imperiale ref. 388531-3003 is a conspicuously restrained selection. Saudi royals are historically associated with heavily complicated or jewel-set timepieces from Patek Philippe, Richard Mille, and Rolex's precious-metal catalogue. King Salman's choice of a steel Chopard — a watch any upper-middle-income professional might own — projects accessibility, or at minimum a deliberate separation of private taste from public expectation.

On the secondary market the Chopard Imperiale 388531-3003 trades close to its retail figure, reflecting stable rather than speculative demand. With a UK list price of approximately £6,130 (roughly $7,700 USD at current rates), it occupies the entry tier of in-house Swiss automatic watchmaking — solid value, zero waiting list, and now carrying a quietly royal endorsement.