Footballer Ibrahima Konaté spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Ibrahima Konaté, newly unveiled as a Real Madrid player by club president Florentino Pérez, appeared at the official ceremony wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin ref. 16202XT in titanium and bulk metallic glass with a smoked burgundy dial. The French national team defender's wristwatch choice underscored the occasion's prestige, anchoring a formal presentation that marked his transition to one of European football's most storied clubs.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin ref. 16202XT combines two advanced materials—titanium and palladium-based bulk metallic glass—in a case measuring 39 mm across and 6.24 mm in thickness. The extra-thin calibre 2121 automatic movement, visible through the transparent caseback, operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour with a 40-hour power reserve. The integrated bracelet, crafted in the same material combination as the case, features AP's signature eight-sided bezel and applies grain-brushed finishing to the bracelet centre links while maintaining mirror polish on the outer case surfaces. Water resistance reaches 20 metres—a specification typical of dress watches prioritising thinness over diving capability. The smoked burgundy dial presents a tone-on-tone aesthetic that shifts subtly across light conditions, reinforcing the monochromatic design language that defined Genta's original 1972 Jumbo.

Audemars Piguet's use of bulk metallic glass on the Royal Oak traces to a singular 2021 pièce unique created for Only Watch, which presaged the material's commercial arrival. The ref. 16202XT became the first series-production Royal Oak to adopt palladium-based BMG in 2023, marking a technical distinction within the wider Royal Oak Jumbo line. Unlike Omega's earlier introduction of BMG in 2010, Audemars Piguet's formulation employs precious-metal composition, aligning the material with the brand's luxury positioning and conferring greater stability than standard alloys.

Konaté's selection of the ref. 16202XT aligns with contemporary footballer watch culture, where haute horlogerie dress watches communicate refinement beyond sportswear sponsorships. The Jumbo Extra-Thin's sub-7 mm profile suits formal occasions and sits comfortably beneath a dress shirt cuff—a practical consideration for high-profile players navigating public appearances.

Retail pricing for the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin ref. 16202XT stands at approximately USD 48,000. Grey-market and pre-owned examples trade between USD 52,000 and USD 58,000, reflecting consistent collector demand for exotic-material Royal Oaks and the ref. 16202XT's status as the first series production to combine titanium with precious-metal BMG. Waitlist situations vary by authorised retailer, though secondary-market liquidity remains strong.