Singer Vlad Topalov spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Russian singer, dancer and actor Vlad Topalov was recently spotted wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph in stainless steel, reference 26320ST.OO.1220ST.01 — a watch that occupies a particularly compelling position within one of horology's most celebrated families.

The Royal Oak Chronograph 41mm is built around the in-house calibre 2385, an integrated column-wheel chronograph movement with a lateral clutch that Audemars Piguet developed in partnership with Renaud & Papi. Operating at 21,600 vph with a 40-hour power reserve, the movement is fully visible through the sapphire caseback and delivers a reliability and finishing standard that justifies its position at the top of the Swiss chronograph hierarchy. The reference 26320ST wears its complications on a clean black index dial framed by the signature tapisserie pattern — a texture that, even after five decades, has lost none of its visual authority.

The 26320ST replaced the earlier 26300ST in the Royal Oak Chronograph lineup, bringing subtle but meaningful refinements to the case architecture and bracelet integration. At 41mm, it strikes the balance AP intended: large enough for contemporary tastes, but disciplined enough to honour Gerald Genta's original 1972 blueprint. The stainless steel case and bracelet remain the entry point of choice for serious collectors, who consistently rate the steel Royal Oak above its gold counterparts for wearability and long-term desirability.

Topalov rose to fame as a member of the Russian pop duo Smash!!, one of the most commercially successful acts in early 2000s Russian pop. Since going solo in 2006, he has built a sustained career as a performer and television personality, and his watch choice reflects the kind of understated confidence that the Royal Oak Chronograph projects — technically serious, immediately recognisable, but never ostentatious.

On the secondary market, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26320ST commands strong demand. With an official retail price in the region of $30,000 USD, grey-market pricing has historically tracked at or above retail, underlining the enduring pull of the steel Royal Oak regardless of broader market fluctuations.