Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Anant Ambani spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Photographed courtside at an Indian Premier League fixture while supporting the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise, Anant Ambani — youngest son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani — was caught wearing what horological analysis confirms as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph in titanium, reference 26400IO.OO.A004CA.01. The setting, a high-energy cricket stadium packed with spectators, is a fitting backdrop for a watch built around sporting performance credentials.

The Royal Oak Offshore was born in 1993 as Emmanuel Gueit's deliberately confrontational evolution of Gérald Genta's 1972 Royal Oak. The 44mm titanium iteration takes that boldness further — grade-5 titanium cuts case weight to roughly 100 grams complete, while a black ceramic bezel insert adds scratch resistance and tonal contrast. The slate grey dial features AP's signature mega tapisserie pattern with applied white-gold hour markers. Two subsidiary chronograph registers sit at 9 and 3 o'clock, with a date window at 3. The grey rubber strap with titanium deployant clasp completes a cohesive, sport-focused execution.

Powering the watch is Audemars Piguet's Calibre 3126/3840, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a 40-hour power reserve, beating at 21,600 vph. The movement incorporates a flyback function on select configurations, though the standard chronograph reset mechanism is employed here. Finishing is consistent with AP's manufacture standards — bevelled bridges, circular graining on the mainplate.

From a collector standpoint, the titanium Royal Oak Offshore occupies a nuanced position. It trades the prestige associations of precious metal for genuine technical merit and daily wearability, making it a favourite among collectors who prioritise function alongside provenance. The reference has held stable on secondary markets, appreciated for its relative accessibility within AP's catalogue.

At a retail price of $26,500 — Rs. 20,21,000 in the Indian market — this watch sits at the entry point of the Offshore chronograph family. For Anant Ambani, whose family collection almost certainly includes far rarer pieces, the choice of this relatively accessible AP reference signals a preference for purposeful, sport-oriented horology over ostentatious display.