Boxer Canelo Álvarez spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Saúl 'Canelo' Álvarez, the undisputed super-middleweight world champion and one of boxing's most recognizable global brands, was recently photographed sporting an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak reference 15400ST.OO.1220ST.02 — the stainless steel version fitted with the brand's elegant white 'Grande Tapisserie' dial. For a fighter who has made horology as much a part of his personal style as his ring craft, the choice is telling: this is not a flashy complications piece but a study in understated horological authority.

The Royal Oak ref. 15400ST was launched in 2012, replacing the 15300ST and standardizing the case diameter at 41mm — a notable step up from the 39mm of earlier generations. The case and integrated bracelet are crafted entirely in stainless steel, hand-finished with alternating brushed and polished surfaces that remain one of the most labor-intensive finishing jobs in Swiss watchmaking. Beneath the sapphire crystal sits the Calibre 3120, an entirely in-house automatic movement beating at 21,600 vph with a 60-hour power reserve and a 40-jewel construction. The white dial variant showcases AP's signature 'Grande Tapisserie' guilloche pattern — a fine, precise check motif that plays with light in a way few dials can match.

Collectors regard the 15400ST as a transitional reference that bridges the raw, tool-watch character of early Royal Oaks with the more refined, high-luxury positioning AP has pursued in recent years. Discontinued in 2020 in favor of the ref. 15500ST — which introduced a new movement and slightly revised aesthetics — the 15400ST has gained retrospective appreciation. White dial examples in particular are considered the cleaner, more collectible configuration, often commanding premiums over blue-dialed counterparts on the secondary market.

Canelo's relationship with fine watches is well documented. The Guadalajara native has been photographed wearing everything from Richard Mille's carbon-composite sports models to Patek Philippe complications, but his repeated appearances in steel sports watches signal a genuine collector's instinct rather than simple brand performance. The Royal Oak in steel, with no precious metal or diamond setting, is arguably the purest expression of the model's ethos.

At UK list price the 15400ST retailed around £15,000, but the grey market tells a different story entirely. Discontinued Royal Oaks in steel — especially white dial examples — routinely trade well above retail, reflecting enduring demand and AP's continued allocation restrictions across its current lineup. For a watch that costs roughly the same as a mid-range family car at retail, secondary market pricing confirms its status as a genuine asset.