Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Kevin O'Leary spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

On a recent episode of Shark Tank, Kevin O'Leary — 'Mr. Wonderful' himself — showed up to the table wearing what serious collectors would immediately clock as one of the most covetable references in the Audemars Piguet catalog: the Royal Oak Jumbo Ultra-Thin Ref. 15202ST.OO.1240ST.01, complete with its iconic blue 'Grande Tapisserie' dial and mounted, somewhat defiantly, on a red rubber strap.

The 15202ST is the direct spiritual successor to the original 'A-series' Royal Oak launched in 1972. At 39mm in stainless steel with a case height of just 8.1mm, it remains one of the thinnest luxury sports watches in production. The movement inside is the hand-wound Calibre 2121 — a joint development between Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Vacheron Constantin — measuring a staggering 3.05mm in height. It beats at 19,800 vph and offers a 40-hour power reserve. The integrated bracelet, beveled lugs, and AP signature at 6 o'clock are the visual tells that separate this reference from the more recent Ref. 15500, which uses the thicker automatic Calibre 4302.

For collectors, the 15202 occupies a rarefied tier. It was quietly discontinued and replaced by the 15500 in 2021, which only intensified demand for the outgoing model. The insistence on a hand-wound movement — a deliberate nod to horological purity — makes it the choice of the informed buyer rather than the status-driven one. The blue dial version is the most recognizable and, arguably, the most desirable configuration.

O'Leary has long used watches as a statement of financial acumen rather than mere fashion. His collection skews toward high-complication and high-recognition pieces, and the 15202 fits squarely in that philosophy — it signals connoisseurship to those who know, while reading simply as a clean, elegant sports watch to those who don't.

At retail, the Ref. 15202ST listed around $25,800 before its discontinuation. On the secondary market, however, the grey market has pushed values significantly higher, reflecting its status as an immediate modern classic. Buyers should expect to pay a meaningful premium over the last known retail price.