Singer Ed Sheeran spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Ed Sheeran was recently photographed wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' Extra-Thin in stainless steel, reference 16202ST — a watch that has become the defining grail piece of the 2020s grey market and one of the clearest indicators of where serious collector appetite currently sits.

Launched in 2022 to commemorate the Royal Oak's 50th anniversary, the 16202ST is a faithful, technically rigorous homage to the original ref. 5402ST that Gerald Genta sketched on a single napkin overnight in 1971. It measures 39mm in diameter and sits just 8.1mm tall, housing the ultra-thin Calibre 7121 — an in-house movement that traces its lineage directly to the Jaeger-LeCoultre 920, the same ultra-flat automatic that powered the earliest Royal Oaks. Beating at 19,800 vph with a 60-hour power reserve, the 7121 is finished to a standard that rewards close inspection: alternating brushed and polished surfaces throughout, with a signed rotor visible through the exhibition caseback. The iconic 'Grande Tapisserie' dial, eight-screw bezel, and integrated bracelet remain unchanged in proportion and spirit from the original.

For collectors, the 16202ST occupies a rare category: a modern production piece with genuine historical legitimacy. Unlike many anniversary editions that rely on cosmetic differentiation, this reference earns its status through mechanical and dimensional fidelity. Audemars Piguet positioned it as the purist's Royal Oak, and the market responded decisively — waitlists at authorized dealers stretched years, and grey-market premiums climbed to extraordinary levels almost immediately after release.

Ed Sheeran has demonstrated consistent horological seriousness over the years, with previous sightings including other AP and Patek Philippe references. The 16202ST suits his understated approach — it reads as a plain steel sports watch to the uninitiated, but signals deep knowledge to anyone who recognizes the reference.

With a list price of approximately $33,200 and current secondary market valuations hovering around $250,000, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 16202ST represents one of the starkest retail-to-grey-market differentials of any watch in current production. That gap shows no meaningful sign of closing.