Pilot Fabio Quartararo spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Ahead of the 2022 Dutch TT at Assen, MotoGP World Champion Fabio Quartararo arrived trackside wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 26240ST — a stainless steel anniversary piece with a khaki green dial that stands as one of the most collectible references introduced during the Royal Oak's 50th year. The choice reads less as sponsorship optics and more as genuine enthusiasm: Quartararo has publicly expressed his affinity for fine watchmaking, and the 26240ST is not a piece one simply reaches for casually.

The Royal Oak Chronograph 26240ST sits at the technical heart of AP's anniversary celebrations. Its 41mm stainless steel case houses the Calibre 4401, an integrated column-wheel flyback chronograph movement developed entirely in-house and beating at 4Hz with a 70-hour power reserve. The movement represents a substantial step forward from the previous Calibre 2385, offering flyback functionality and a more contemporary architecture while remaining true to the integrated-bracelet philosophy Genta established in 1972. The khaki green dial carries the iconic Grande Tapisserie pattern — hand-finished with elevated precision — and features matching green chronograph counters, a detail that demonstrates genuine design restraint.

From a collector standpoint, the 26240ST in khaki green occupies a privileged position. Anniversary-year production pieces carry the commemorative "50 Years" rotor visible through the sapphire caseback, a detail that will not appear on subsequent production. Green dials across all luxury segments saw exceptional demand in the early 2020s, but the Royal Oak's interpretation avoids trend-chasing: the tone is muted, military, and deeply coherent with the octagonal bezel's architecture. Collectors tracking anniversary references have treated this configuration as a cornerstone acquisition.

Quartararo, the 2021 MotoGP World Champion riding for Monster Energy Yamaha, represents a natural alignment for Audemars Piguet's sporting identity. His presence at Assen — one of the most technically demanding circuits on the calendar — wearing a flyback chronograph is a symbolism that communicates without effort.

At an official retail price of $33,800, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 26240ST was already commanding premiums in the grey market through 2022 and into 2023, with transaction prices regularly exceeding retail by a meaningful margin given constrained boutique availability and anniversary-limited appeal.