Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, who leads the energy sector within the Reliance conglomerate, is well known for his passion for collecting the rarest and most expensive watches. His personal watch collection includes some of the most exclusive horological creations by leading luxury watchmakers like Patek Philippe and Richard Mille, some of which are worth several million dollars. The newest addition to Anant’s collection is a bejeweled masterpiece by Audemars Piguet which is a proper attention magnet. Adorning the wrist of the 28-year-old, the exquisite timepiece is not just a symbol of opulence but an ode to unmatched craftsmanship. The timepiece we are talking about is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked which is almost completely covered with diamonds.
Anant Ambani was spotted wearing the dazzling timepiece recently at the extravagant Ganesh Chaturthi celebration hosted by the Ambani clan. The star-studded event was attended by Bollywood A-listers and other prominent celebrities, who were seen donning eye-catching outfits and ultra-luxurious accessories. However, nothing came close to the diamond-encrusted Audemars Piguet on Anant’s wrist, which beautifully complemented his orange-colored Indian ethnic dress. Launched in 2021, the bejeweled iteration of the timepiece features a 41mm case crafted out of 18-carat pink gold. A total of 436 baguette-cut diamonds adorn the case, bracelet, and bezel, which have been carefully selected by AP to match its highest standards in terms of clarity, cut, and color. In fact, each diamond is individually cut and polished by master craftsmen to perfection before being invisibly set by hand. To make the timepiece truly exceptional, the gem setting extends all the way down to the folding clasp.
The diamonds on the bezel envelop the openworked mechanism of the timepiece, highlighting the beautifully finished components of movement ticking inside. To match the color of the case, the hour-markers are adorned with 11 pink gold-toned baguette-cut sapphires. Housed inside the case is Caliber 3132, which is equipped with the patented double balance wheel mechanism. The 22-carat pink gold double balance wheel is visible from the front as well as through the transparent sapphire caseback. While the original price tag of the limited edition timepiece was only available upon request when it was launched, a pre-owned example can be purchased from Chrono24 for $3.3 million.
Despite a jaw-dropping price, the shiny Audemars Piguet isn’t the most expensive or mechanically impressive timepiece owned by Anant. Those titles are held by the incredibly complex Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Reference 6300G, which was spotted on the young business leader’s wrist a few months back. Believed to be worth a whopping $9 million, the Grandmaster Chime is touted as the most complicated watch ever made by the iconic Swiss watchmaker. The exceptional timepiece houses twenty complications, seven patents and innovations, two independent dials, and a unique reversible case. In fact, another iteration of the timepiece currently holds the record for the most expensive watch ever sold.
While his son owns some of the most expensive watches ever made, Mukesh Ambani – the richest person in Asia – is often spotted wearing discreet, unassuming timepieces. In complete contrast to Anant’s bejeweled AP or the incredibly complex Patek, Mukesh Ambani happily wears a $8300 Rolex, which not only is a discontinued model but is also a ladies’ watch. But his choice of watch tells a lot about the billionaire; despite a net worth of close to $90 billion and being one of the most powerful businessmen in the world, Mukesh Ambani is known for his down-to-earth and approachable nature.
Note – As of writing this article, according to Forbes, Mukesh Ambani is worth $88 billion.
