Golfer Ian Poulter spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Ian Poulter has never been shy about wearing serious metal — or in this case, serious ceramic — on the course and off it. The Ryder Cup stalwart and outspoken watch enthusiast was recently spotted wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon in black ceramic, reference 26522CE, a watch that commands attention not through flash but through extraordinary restraint and technical depth.

The Royal Oak Tourbillon ref. 26522CE is built around Audemars Piguet's Calibre 2910, a hand-wound flying tourbillon movement running at 21,600 vph with a 70-hour power reserve. The movement is housed in a 41mm black ceramic case — a material notoriously difficult to machine to the Royal Oak's exacting tolerances of alternating brushed and polished surfaces. The result is a near-monolithic aesthetic: the iconic integrated bracelet, the tapisserie dial, and the eight-screw bezel all rendered in a deep, matte-satin black that gives the watch an almost sculptural quality. Water resistance is rated to 50 metres.

From a collector standpoint, the 26522CE occupies a precise and coveted position. Production is capped at 100 pieces globally, making it one of the most limited Royal Oak references in active circulation. The flying tourbillon complication — where the regulating organ appears to float without a bridge — is technically demanding and visually compelling, and pairing it with ceramic rather than precious metal reflects AP's ongoing effort to position the Royal Oak as a serious horological object, not merely a luxury status symbol.

Poulter's watch collection is well documented among enthusiasts: he has worn Royal Oaks, Richard Milles, and a range of high-complication pieces at tournaments and public appearances for years. His choice of the 26522CE signals not just wealth but genuine collector intelligence — this is a watch that rewards knowledge, not one that announces itself to the uninitiated.

On the secondary market, the 26522CE commands significant premiums above its already substantial retail price, reflecting both its limited production and the enduring demand for ceramic Royal Oak variants. With a UK list price of approximately £132,000, grey-market values have been observed trending higher, particularly as ceramic Royal Oaks gain traction among a younger generation of serious collectors.