Footballer Michael Keane spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Michael Keane, the England international and Everton central defender, was recently spotted wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph in 18K rose gold — reference 26470OR — a watch that needs little introduction in serious collecting circles but still commands attention every time it appears on a wrist.

The 26470OR sits at the summit of the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph range. Measuring 42mm in diameter and crafted entirely in 18K rose gold — case, bezel, and bracelet — it is a physically substantial watch that carries its weight with purpose. The signature octagonal bezel, secured by eight exposed hexagonal screws, references Gerald Genta's original 1972 Royal Oak design, while the Offshore interpretation, first introduced in 1993 by Emmanuel Gueit, amplifies the proportions with a more aggressive, sporting character. The dial on the 26470OR features the classic "Grande Tapisserie" pattern in a brown sunburst tone that plays beautifully against the warm rose gold — a combination AP has refined over successive generations of this reference.

Powering the watch is Audemars Piguet's calibre 3126/3840, a self-winding column-wheel chronograph movement with a 50-hour power reserve, beating at 21,600 vph. The movement is rhodium-plated and finished with Geneva stripes and bevelled bridges — entirely appropriate for a manufacture of AP's standing, even if the exhibition caseback is not the primary reason most buyers reach for this particular reference.

For collectors, the 26470OR occupies a specific and respected niche: it is the full-luxury expression of the Offshore line, stripped of the rubber straps and sportier colourways associated with the range's more accessible configurations. It signals commitment — both financial and aesthetic. The reference carries a UK list price of approximately £55,000, which in rose gold noble metal pricing terms is logical positioning within the AP catalogue.

On the grey market, rose gold Offshore chronograph references have held value steadily, generally trading at or modestly above retail depending on condition and completeness of set. For Keane, a Premier League professional with the purchasing power to match, the 26470OR is an entirely coherent choice — considered, substantial, and carrying the kind of horological credibility that transcends the footballer-watch cliché.