Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Stormzy spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Stormzy has been photographed wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' Extra Thin in 18K white gold with a salmon dial, reference 15202BC — a watch that routinely trades at nearly four times its retail price and sits at the apex of AP's most tradition-bound line.

The Royal Oak 'Jumbo' Extra-Thin 15202 is the purist's Royal Oak. At 39mm with a case thickness of just 8.1mm, it adheres closely to the proportions of the original 1972 reference 5402 designed by Gerald Genta. The 15202BC variant substitutes the more common stainless steel or yellow gold for 18K white gold, immediately elevating its rarity and visual weight. Powering the watch is the legendary Calibre 2121 — a movement with roots in the Jaeger-LeCoultre 920, measuring a mere 3.05mm in height and featuring a 40-hour power reserve. It is a movement that AP has used for over five decades, and its continued presence is a deliberate statement about heritage over novelty.

The salmon dial deserves particular attention. Among Royal Oak dial colors, salmon — a warm, pinkish-copper hue that shifts under different lighting conditions — occupies a special place in collector culture. It references early AP and dress-watch traditions, and in combination with the 'Tapisserie' petit-checked guilloche pattern and the white gold integrated bracelet, the effect is one of restrained luxury. The 15202BC in salmon has become a grail configuration, consistently outperforming blue and grey dial variants on the secondary market.

Stormzy has long demonstrated a sophisticated approach to watches, with AP pieces appearing regularly in his public appearances. Choosing the 15202BC rather than the more visible 15500 or the Royal Oak Offshore signals a preference for understated horological depth over spectacle — the Jumbo is a watch appreciated most by those who already know.

At a retail price of approximately $55,400, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15202BC in white gold with salmon dial is already premium by any measure. On the grey market, however, current valuations hover around $205,000, reflecting both the scarcity of white gold production allocations and the relentless collector demand for this exact reference. It is one of the clearest examples in contemporary watchmaking of list price being almost entirely disconnected from actual market reality.