Boxer Manny Pacquiao spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino boxing legend and eight-division world champion, was recently photographed wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin in 18kt pink gold, reference 26515OR — a watch limited to just 25 pieces globally, placing it firmly among the most exclusive Royal Oak variants in existence.

The 26515OR is built around calibre 2924, a manually wound flying tourbillon movement measuring a remarkable 3.95mm thin. The 41mm pink gold case carries the movement at just 8.09mm total case thickness, making it one of the slimmest tourbillon wristwatches ever produced at this diameter. The signature Grande Tapisserie dial, executed in a warm brown tone that harmonizes with the 18kt pink gold case, is framed by the eight-screw bezel that has defined Royal Oak DNA since Gerald Genta sketched the original design on a napkin in 1971. AP's proprietary integrated bracelet, rendered here in polished and satin-finished pink gold, completes a package that balances sportswear architecture with grand complications watchmaking.

From a collector standpoint, the Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin 26515OR represents a convergence of three highly desirable attributes: extreme production scarcity at 25 pieces, a top-tier complication executed with demonstrable technical credibility, and the enduring cultural weight of the Royal Oak reference family. Flying tourbillons — which lack a bridge over the carriage, creating a visually cleaner dial — are technically more demanding to regulate than conventional tourbillons, adding genuine horological substance to the aesthetic proposition.

Pacquiao has long maintained a collection weighted toward statement complications and haute horlogerie, consistent with his stature as one of professional boxing's all-time earners. Spotting the 26515OR on his wrist is less surprising than it might seem — the watch aligns with both his documented affinity for Audemars Piguet and his preference for pieces that carry serious collector credentials beyond simple brand recognition.

On the secondary market, pink gold Royal Oak tourbillons with this level of production limitation command significant premiums over list. With a UK list price of approximately £148,000, grey market transactions for the 26515OR, where they surface at all, routinely exceed retail — a function of near-zero availability and sustained collector demand for ultra-thin complications in precious metal Royal Oak cases.