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footballerSpotted November 2022

Footballer Eljero Elia spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

footballer Eljero Elia spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet 26470OR
Who & what: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 18k Rose Gold Reference 26470OR.OO.1000OR.01

Eljero Elia, the Dutch winger known for his pace and direct play across stints at Hamburger SV, Juventus, and Feyenoord, was recently spotted wearing one of Audemars Piguet's most uncompromising sport-luxury statements: the Royal Oak Offshore in full 18k pink gold, reference 26470OR.OO.1000OR.01.

The Royal Oak Offshore 26470OR represents the top of the standard Offshore chronograph hierarchy. The 44mm case, lugs, and integrated bracelet are all rendered in 18k pink gold, while the bezel is crafted from brown ceramic — a combination that gives the watch a warm yet deliberately imposing presence. The brown "Grande Tapisserie" dial echoes the bezel tone, maintaining visual coherence across the watch's substantial footprint. Beneath the sapphire caseback sits Calibre 3126/3840, a self-winding column-wheel chronograph with a 60-hour power reserve, beating at 21,600 vph. Water resistance is rated to 100 metres.

The Royal Oak Offshore was originally launched in 1993 as an enlarged, more aggressive cousin to Gerald Genta's iconic 1972 Royal Oak. Designed by Emmanuel Gueit, the Offshore was initially met with skepticism inside Le Brassus — nicknamed "the Beast" by AP employees — before becoming one of the most recognisable luxury sport watches on the market. The full gold chronograph variant, particularly in pink gold, sits at the pinnacle of the standard catalogue, combining precious metal construction with the Offshore's inherently athletic DNA.

Among collectors, the 26470OR occupies a respected position. It is not a limited edition and has no waiting-list mystique, but its all-pink-gold execution and reliable in-house movement make it a genuine long-term hold. The integrated bracelet finishing and the ceramic bezel demonstrate AP's technical capability beyond the movement itself. Footballers have historically gravitated toward the Offshore — its size and boldness translate well on the wrist in a sport where visible luxury has long been part of the culture — but a full gold chronograph variant signals a more considered purchase than the entry-level rubber-strap configurations.

At UK retail of approximately £44,000, the 26470OR.OO.1000OR.01 sits at the higher end of accessible AP pricing before entering the platinum or high-complication territory. On the secondary market, pink gold Offshore chronographs in this reference trade broadly in line with or modestly above retail, reflecting steady but not speculative demand. For Elia, it reads as a considered choice from a player who clearly knows his watches.

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