Watch Paparazzi

Boxer Badr Hari spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Schiphol Airport may not be the most glamorous backdrop for a haute horology sighting, but when Badr Hari passes through departures, the wrist check demands attention. The Moroccan-Dutch kickboxing superstar was recently photographed alongside a fan, his left wrist carrying what is unambiguously an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon — a watch that competes with Hari's own reputation for raw, uncompromising power.

The Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon, reference 26580IO, represents Audemars Piguet's most extreme interpretation of the iconic Royal Oak architecture first conceived by Gérald Genta in 1972. The case — measuring 44mm — departs entirely from the original's polished steel octagon, instead combining forged carbon, titanium and white ceramic in a multi-material construction that reduces weight while maximizing visual drama. The signature 'X-bridge' movement architecture, visible through the fully skeletonized dial, supports a flying tourbillon at 6 o'clock and a GMT complication, driven by Calibre 2954 with a 72-hour power reserve. The white rubber strap and ceramic bezel configuration visible here confirms the 'white ceramic' variant of the reference.

From a collector's standpoint, the Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon occupies a rare intersection: it is technically rigorous enough to satisfy serious complication collectors yet visually aggressive enough to attract a sportswear and entertainment clientele. Limited to 50 examples globally, secondary market availability is near-zero, and when pieces do surface at auction, they command significant premiums over the already formidable retail price. AP's Concept line has consistently demonstrated stronger value retention than the broader Royal Oak family.

Badr Hari — arguably the most marketable heavyweight kickboxer of the past two decades — has long cultivated an image that blends street credibility with genuine luxury taste. His watch choices have reflected that duality. An AP Royal Oak Concept at this price point is not a casual purchase; it signals considered collecting rather than impulse luxury spending.

At a UK RRP of approximately £135,000 (roughly $168,000 USD at time of release), this is one of the most expensive non-perpetual calendar watches in Audemars Piguet's catalogue. Grey market pricing, when units appear, has historically tracked above retail given the 50-piece limitation. For collectors, seeing it on an active professional athlete's wrist — not in a safe — is precisely the spirit AP intended.