Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Virgil Van Dijk spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

When Virgil van Dijk put pen to paper on his new Liverpool FC contract, the watch on his wrist was anything but a casual choice. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked in black ceramic, reference 15416CE, is one of the most coveted and genuinely scarce pieces in the current Royal Oak catalogue — a fitting companion for a moment of that magnitude.

The 15416CE is built around the calibre 26586SX, Audemars Piguet's self-winding openworked perpetual calendar movement. It operates at 3Hz (21,600 vph), offers approximately 40 hours of power reserve, and displays day, date, month, moon phase, and leap year through an architectural skeletonised dial that exposes virtually every component of the mechanism. The 41mm black ceramic case — a material AP works with to exceptional effect — absorbs light rather than reflecting it, giving the watch a stealth quality that contrasts sharply with the intricate movement visible beneath the sapphire crystal.

From a collector standpoint, the 15416CE occupies rare territory. Black ceramic Royal Oaks have always attracted a premium, but the combination of ceramic, openworking, and perpetual calendar complication in a single reference makes this one of the most technically ambitious and visually distinctive pieces in the entire Royal Oak family. Production numbers are limited, waitlists at authorised dealers are essentially academic, and the secondary market has priced accordingly — the watch trades at multiples that few complications at any price point can match.

Van Dijk has established himself as one of the more discerning watch collectors in professional football. The choice of the 15416CE for a contract signing aligns with the image of a player who has consistently carried himself with composure and intent — on and off the pitch. At 33, re-committing to Liverpool is a statement; wearing this particular Royal Oak to do it is its own editorial.

At a UK list price of £76,900 (approximately $84,300 USD), the 15416CE is already a significant investment. On the grey market, however, it consistently trades north of $460,000 USD — a reflection of genuine scarcity and sustained demand rather than speculation alone. For collectors watching the Royal Oak ceramic segment, Van Dijk's sighting is further confirmation that this reference remains one of the most consequential pieces in contemporary horology.