Watch Paparazzi

Actor Sonu Sood spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Sonu Sood, one of Bollywood's most recognizable faces and a celebrated humanitarian figure, was recently photographed wearing a timepiece that commands serious attention in collector circles: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 'Rhone Fusterie,' reference 25770ST. The sighting places Sood firmly among a discerning group of enthusiasts who seek out limited-distribution AP references rather than mainstream catalogue pieces.

The Royal Oak Offshore 'Rhone Fusterie' was produced as an exclusive boutique edition for Audemars Piguet's Geneva boutique located on the Rue du Rhône — one of Europe's premier watch retail destinations. The watch is built on the robust 42mm stainless steel octagonal Royal Oak Offshore case, featuring the signature 'Méga Tapisserie' dial pattern rendered in a bold, unapologetic red. The matching red rubber-tipped chronograph pushers and vivid red alligator leather strap create a monochromatic statement that is immediately distinctive. The white subsidiary dials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock provide essential contrast and legibility, a hallmark of Gerald Genta's original Offshore design language.

Powering the piece is AP's calibre 2226/2840, a self-winding integrated column-wheel chronograph movement delivering 40 hours of power reserve. The movement's architecture, rooted in the El Primero base but substantially reworked by AP, offers 3Hz frequency and exceptional reliability — core reasons the Royal Oak Offshore earned its reputation as a serious sportsman's instrument despite its celebrity following.

From a collector standpoint, boutique-exclusive Offshore editions like the Rhone Fusterie occupy a privileged tier. Produced in quantities far smaller than standard references, they rarely appear in the secondary market and command significant premiums when they do. The red dial configuration is widely considered among the most desirable colorways in the Offshore family, sitting alongside the 'Panda' and blue 'Alinghi' editions as benchmark references.

Sonu Sood's choice of this particular reference signals genuine watch knowledge rather than casual luxury spending. With an official retail price around $31,400 and grey-market values consistently outpacing that figure, the Rhone Fusterie represents both a sound horological choice and a quietly appreciating asset.