Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Ian Wright spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Ian Wright, one of English football's most celebrated strikers and a fixture on British television, was recently spotted wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph in the reference 26400SO.OO.A002CA.01 — a combination of brushed stainless steel and black ceramic that makes it one of the more visually distinctive variants in the modern Offshore catalogue.

The ref. 26400SO represents a mature evolution of Gerald Genta's original 1993 Royal Oak Offshore design. At 44mm, it retains the oversized, assertive proportions that defined the Offshore as a deliberate departure from the more refined Royal Oak. The black ceramic bezel contrasts sharply with the steel case, and the dial — featuring a black "Méga Tapisserie" pattern with subsidiary registers at 3, 9, and 6 o'clock — carries the model's signature rugged luxury aesthetic. The caseback is sapphire, offering a clear view of the movement beneath.

Powering the watch is the automatic calibre 3126/3840, a column-wheel chronograph movement with integrated construction, 59-hour power reserve, and a 21,600 vph beat rate. Built on a Jaeger-LeCoultre ebauche and extensively finished by AP, it remains a highly regarded movement — reliable, well-decorated, and appropriate to the watch's positioning. The integrated chronograph architecture ensures precise start-stop operation and a clean push-piece feel.

Among collectors, the 26400SO occupies solid ground. The steel-and-ceramic combination ages well and has proven more resistant to the kind of rapid depreciation seen in full-rubber-strap Offshore variants. It appeals to buyers who want the full Offshore experience — size, presence, chronograph functionality — without straying into precious metals. Secondary market activity for the reference has remained consistent.

Ian Wright has never been shy about expressive personal style, and the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph suits his public persona well — recognisable, substantial, and rooted in genuine watchmaking credibility. The UK retail price sits around £20,000, with grey-market values tracking close to or slightly below that figure depending on condition and box-and-papers status.