Pilot Michael Schumacher spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Michael Schumacher, the most decorated Formula 1 driver in the history of the sport at the time of his retirement, has been spotted wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Themes Panda — reference 26170ST.OO.1000ST.01 — a watch whose visual DNA maps almost perfectly onto the world of motorsport that defined his career.

The Royal Oak Offshore Ref. 26170ST is built around the 42mm stainless steel case that has anchored the Offshore line since Emmanuel Gueit expanded on Gerald Genta's original Royal Oak design in 1993. The 'Panda' configuration — white dial with black chronograph registers — gives the watch an immediate legibility and a classic sports-timing aesthetic. The reference runs on the Calibre 3126/3840, a self-winding chronograph movement with column-wheel control and a 40-hour power reserve, housed inside a case rated to 100 metres of water resistance. The integrated stainless steel bracelet, reference 1000ST, reinforces the tool-watch intent of the design.

Within the broader Royal Oak Offshore family, the Themes series occupies a specific collector niche. These editions were produced to honour AP's relationships with sporting disciplines — Formula 1 among them — and the Panda dial variant is consistently among the more sought-after configurations. The contrast between white lacquered dial and dark registers ages well aesthetically and photographs cleanly, which has helped sustain its profile in the secondary market.

Schumacher's connection to Audemars Piguet runs deep. During his active years with Ferrari and Mercedes, he was a prominent brand ambassador, and the partnership produced several dedicated references bearing his name. The Offshore sits slightly outside the ultra-complicated territory he was associated with during peak ambassadorship, but it reflects a practical side of serious watch collecting — a robust, high-quality chronograph capable of matching an active lifestyle.

On the current market, the Royal Oak Offshore Ref. 26170ST.OO.1000ST.01 commands attention among collectors looking for steel Offshore chronographs with clear thematic provenance. Retail pricing at launch sat around the £20,000 mark in the UK, and grey-market values for well-preserved examples have held firm, reflecting sustained demand for steel Offshore references across the board.