Footballer Robert Lewandowski spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Robert Lewandowski, the Polish striker for Chicago Fire FC, made a high-profile appearance at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, throwing the ceremonial first pitch before a White Sox game against the Cleveland Guardians. On his wrist sat the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26579CE.OO.1225CE.01 in black ceramic—a watch that represents one of the most technically ambitious releases in modern haute horlogerie.

The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26579CE broke new ground when Audemars Piguet introduced it in 2017. This timepiece houses the Caliber 5135, a self-winding perpetual calendar mechanism with annual, bi-annual, and moonphase complications—a movement that required years of development to function reliably and accurately. The case and fully integrated bracelet are machined from high-tech black ceramic, a material that demands specialized tooling to finish to Audemars Piguet's exacting standards. At 41 mm in diameter with a thickness of 11.4 mm, the proportions remain true to the original Royal Oak design language while delivering a contemporary matte-black aesthetic. Water resistance reaches 20 meters—sufficient for daily wear but not for swimming or diving.

What distinguishes the ceramic 26579CE from its precious-metal counterparts is the manufacturing complexity involved. The integrated case construction—where the lugs, case band, and bracelet flow as a single component—demands precision machining and finishing that is functionally identical to the processes used for gold or platinum Royal Oaks. No shortcuts exist in ceramic fabrication at Audemars Piguet. The black ceramic dial displays the perpetual calendar subdials in a balanced layout that honors the brand's graphic heritage while managing four decades of information without visual clutter.

Lewandowski's choice of the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26579CE aligns with a broader trend among professional athletes and public figures gravitating toward complications over precious metals. The ceramic variant holds particular cachet among collectors because production numbers remain constrained, and grey-market availability is sporadic. Audemars Piguet's official waiting lists for this reference extend into multiple years, a testament to sustained collector demand.

On the pre-owned and grey market, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26579CE trades between $165,000 and $185,000, depending on condition, service history, and box/papers provenance. Original retail price sat near $152,000. The ceramic material, combined with the perpetual calendar caliber, positions this reference as a technical landmark that transcends typical luxury-watch investment categories—it remains a genuine innovation in integrated watchmaking.