Actor Gaz Beadle spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Gaz Beadle, best known to British audiences as a cast member of MTV's Geordie Shore, was recently spotted having added one of Audemars Piguet's most coveted references to his collection — the Royal Oak Extra-Thin in 18k yellow gold, reference 15202OR.OO.1240OR.01. It is the kind of purchase that signals a collector moving well beyond entry-level luxury territory.

The 15202OR is the direct descendant of the original 1972 'Jumbo' Royal Oak, reference 5402, and it remains the model AP purists point to when the conversation turns serious. At 39mm in diameter and just 8.1mm thick, the solid 18k yellow gold case wears with a refinement that the larger 41mm 15400 cannot match. The gold integrated bracelet — also in 18k yellow gold — flows seamlessly from the octagonal bezel, its eight hexagonal screws as recognisable today as they were when Gerald Genta sketched the design in a single overnight session for the 1972 Basel watch fair.

Beat the centrepiece of the 15202OR is the Calibre 2121, a movement with a heritage nearly as storied as the case it inhabits. Developed originally by Jaeger-LeCoultre as the 920, the 2121 measures just 3.05mm in height and oscillates at 19,800 vph, offering a 40-hour power reserve. Without a date wheel, the dial achieves the clean symmetry Genta intended, and the grande tapisserie pattern — hand-finished on each individual dial — catches light in a way photographs rarely do justice.

Among collectors, the 15202 series occupies a distinct tier above the date-equipped 15400 and its successor the 15500. Waiting lists at authorised dealers for any 15202 variant are notoriously long, and the yellow gold configuration carries particular appeal given AP's broader trend toward steel and rose gold in recent years. It is a watch bought as much for what it represents historically as for its considerable daily wearability.

Beadle's acquisition places him in well-documented company — the Royal Oak Extra-Thin has long attracted buyers who understand the difference between a trophy watch and a horologically significant one. At a UK RRP of approximately £37,100, the 15202OR commands a meaningful premium over its steel sibling, and on the grey market demand consistently pushes values well above list price.