Watch Paparazzi

Royal Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Prince of Qatar and a quietly formidable presence in global watch collecting circles, was recently spotted wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph Tourbillon in black ceramic, reference 26343CE — a watch limited to just 100 examples worldwide. For a royal whose collection is known to span the full spectrum of independent and grand complication watchmaking, this particular choice signals a clear preference for technical substance over mere prestige branding.

The ref. 26343CE is built around Audemars Piguet's calibre 2936, a manually wound movement measuring 36.30mm in diameter and 8.10mm thick. It beats at 21,600 vph and delivers a power reserve of approximately 70 hours. The movement integrates a column-wheel-controlled chronograph mechanism alongside a flying tourbillon positioned at 6 o'clock — a combination that demands extraordinary finishing precision. The skeletonized architecture strips away every gram of unnecessary material, leaving the twin complications exposed beneath an openworked dial that makes the mechanical interaction visible in real time. The 44mm case is crafted in black ceramic, a material Audemars Piguet has refined over decades for its scratch resistance, depth of color, and distinctive matte presence on the wrist.

From a collector standpoint, the 26343CE occupies rare air. The convergence of a tourbillon, a chronograph, an openworked movement, and a black ceramic Royal Oak case — all within a 100-piece production run — places this reference firmly in the category of watches that circulate almost entirely within private networks. It rarely appears at auction, and when it does, it commands serious attention. The openworked Royal Oak chronograph tourbillon in ceramic is widely regarded as one of the brand's most uncompromising statements in the Grande Complication segment.

Sheikh Joaan is well known in sporting and equestrian circles as President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, but within horology he is recognized as a serious collector with consistent access to ultra-limited references. His choice of the 26343CE aligns with a broader pattern among Gulf royalty of favoring watches that combine genuine mechanical complexity with visual drama.

The UK list price stands at £250,000, placing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph Tourbillon ref. 26343CE firmly among the brand's most expensive current or recent references. On the secondary market, where examples are exceptionally scarce, prices have been known to trade at or above retail, reflecting the watch's combination of rarity, complication depth, and the enduring desirability of the Royal Oak silhouette.