Watch Paparazzi

Royal Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

At what appears to be an official engagement in the UAE, Crown Prince of Ajman Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi was photographed with an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph in 18K white gold clearly visible on his wrist. The ice blue dial catches the light distinctly, confirming the sighting as one of the most exclusive current-generation Royal Oak Chronograph references in circulation.

The watch in question is the Royal Oak Chronograph in 18K white gold — limited to just 100 pieces globally — housing the calibre 4401, AP's first fully in-house integrated flyback chronograph movement. Introduced as part of the landmark 50th anniversary Royal Oak platform update, the Cal. 4401 operates at 4Hz (28,800 vph) with a column wheel, vertical clutch and 70-hour power reserve. The 41mm case retains Gérald Genta's iconic octagonal bezel with eight hexagonal screws, now rendered in lustrous white gold that heightens the cool-temperature contrast of the ice blue Grande Tapisserie dial.

The ice blue dial — a shade AP reserves for precious metal Royal Oak references — exhibits the brand's signature small squares relief pattern with applied white gold hour markers. The integrated bracelet, also in 18K white gold, features the characteristic alternating brushed and polished finishing that demands hundreds of hours of hand-work per piece. Limited to 100 examples, this configuration rarely appears on the secondary market and almost never surfaces at grey-market retailers.

Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, is a known connoisseur of fine horology. His choice here is telling: not the more visible stainless steel or even rose gold Royal Oak, but a deliberately understated ultra-rare white gold piece that rewards knowledge over flash — a hallmark of a serious watch collector rather than a trophy buyer.

On the rare occasions a white gold Royal Oak Chronograph of this limited specification trades privately, figures well above retail are consistently reported. The UK list price of approximately £42,800 translates to roughly $54,000 USD at current rates, and grey-market premiums for limited precious-metal AP references routinely exceed 40–60% over retail, placing realistic secondary values comfortably above $75,000 USD.