Television presenter James Corden spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

James Corden, the British comedian and longtime host of CBS's The Late Late Show, was recently spotted wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Automatic 41mm in stainless steel, reference 15400ST.OO.1220ST.01 — one of the most recognisable sports-luxury watches ever produced.

The Royal Oak needs little introduction, but the 15400ST occupies a specific and important chapter in that story. Introduced in 2012, it replaced the 15300ST and pushed the case diameter from 39mm to 41mm, responding to shifting taste toward larger dress-sport watches without compromising the original Gerald Genta-designed proportion. The signature "Tapisserie" dial — here in the classic blue or black options — the integrated bracelet, and the eight-sided bezel secured by exposed hexagonal screws remain unchanged from the 1972 original's DNA. What changed was the movement: the 15400ST runs on Audemars Piguet's Calibre 3120, a 281-component automatic with a 22-carat gold oscillating weight, 60-hour power reserve, and a frequency of 21,600 vph. The movement is visible through the sapphire exhibition caseback, a detail the earlier Reference 14802 notably lacked.

Among collectors, the 15400ST holds a respected but nuanced position. It was eventually succeeded by the 15500ST in 2019, which introduced a slightly updated dial architecture and the newer Calibre 4302. That transition has given the 15400ST a clear identity as the "transitional" Royal Oak — modern enough to wear daily, just discontinued enough to attract secondary-market attention. Complete examples in full set command strong premiums.

Corden, who has cultivated a reputation as a genuine watch enthusiast during his Hollywood tenure, gravitates toward pieces that communicate taste without ostentation. The Royal Oak in stainless steel is precisely that kind of watch — recognisable to those who know, understated to those who don't. It suits a personality built on accessible charm with serious credentials underneath.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15400ST carried an official retail price in the region of $19,900 USD at discontinuation, though authorised dealer availability was extremely limited even at list. On the grey market, demand for clean examples has remained firm, with well-preserved full-set references consistently trading above retail — a pattern that defines the Royal Oak across nearly every generation.