Watch Paparazzi

Writer Giorgia Mondani spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Giorgia Mondani, spotted here wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26331ST, is not a casual watch enthusiast — she is one of Italy's foremost horological authorities, a prolific author of reference books on Rolex, and a respected voice on watch investment. When someone of her calibre chooses a particular piece for daily wear, the choice itself carries editorial weight.

The Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26331ST is built around the self-winding calibre 2385, an integrated column-wheel chronograph movement beating at 21,600 vph with a 40-hour power reserve. The movement is housed in a 41mm stainless steel case with the Royal Oak's signature octagonal bezel secured by eight hexagonal screws — a design Gerald Genta sketched overnight in 1971 that permanently redefined luxury sports watchmaking. The ref. 26331ST presents a striking blue Grande Tapisserie dial with white-lacquered chronograph registers, a running seconds subdial at 6 o'clock, and a date window nestled between 4 and 5 o'clock. The integrated stainless steel bracelet with its brushed and polished finish remains one of the finest in the industry.

From a collector's standpoint, the Royal Oak Chronograph occupies a precise niche: it delivers the full Royal Oak aesthetic with the practical and mechanical bonus of a column-wheel integrated chronograph. Ref. 26331ST has earned a loyal following for its wearability — the 41mm case sits well on a wide range of wrists — and for the blue dial variant in particular, which reads exceptionally well in both formal and casual contexts.

Mondani's choice is consistent with her publicly stated philosophy on investment-grade timepieces. Stainless steel Royal Oaks, particularly in chronograph configuration, have demonstrated long-term value retention and grey-market premiums that few other brands can match. For a writer whose work educates collectors on what to buy and why, wearing the ref. 26331ST is a statement of conviction, not decoration.

At an official retail price of $28,712, the Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26331ST already demands a serious commitment. On the secondary market, demand consistently pushes prices above retail, reflecting the persistent supply constraints that have defined the Royal Oak segment for years.