Boxer Anthony Joshua spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Anthony Joshua, two-time unified heavyweight world champion and one of British sport's most recognisable figures, was recently spotted on the wrist with what is arguably Audemars Piguet's most technically ambitious expression of the Royal Oak in steel: the Royal Oak Tourbillon reference 26510ST. It is not a watch that goes unnoticed, even on the wrist of a man who fills a room on his own.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon ref. 26510ST is built around Calibre 2954, an in-house manual-winding movement featuring a flying tourbillon — meaning the tourbillon cage operates without the traditional upper bridge, creating a visually clean aperture at the 6 o'clock position on the signature Grande Tapisserie dial. The movement oscillates at 21,600 vph and delivers a 70-hour power reserve. The case measures 41mm in diameter, crafted in stainless steel with AP's signature alternating brushed and polished finishing across the eight-sided bezel secured by the eight hexagonal screws that have defined the Royal Oak since Gerald Genta sketched the original in 1971. The integrated bracelet, a hallmark of the Royal Oak DNA, is executed with the same obsessive attention to surface contrast.

From a collector's perspective, the 26510ST occupies a compelling position in the Royal Oak universe. Steel grand complication Royal Oaks are genuinely rare — Audemars Piguet produces the tourbillon variants in extremely limited numbers, and the brand has historically reserved its most complex movements for precious metal cases. A steel tourbillon from Le Brassus therefore carries disproportionate desirability among serious collectors who prize technical content over ostentation. The reference has consistently attracted strong secondary-market attention.

Joshua has long demonstrated that his watch choices reflect genuine horological interest rather than simple badge-wearing. He has been seen with a range of high-complication and high-value references across multiple brands, and the 26510ST fits naturally into that pattern — it is a watch that rewards knowledge, not just a glance.

At a UK list price of £108,500, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon reference 26510ST sits at the upper tier of the Royal Oak family. On the grey market, demand for steel AP tourbillons consistently pushes prices well above retail, reflecting both scarcity and the enduring strength of the Royal Oak as the most culturally significant sports watch in the world.