Actor Joe Manganiello spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Joe Manganiello was recently photographed wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph in stainless steel, reference 26320ST — a piece that sits firmly at the serious end of the actor's well-documented interest in fine watchmaking. The sighting adds another noteworthy entry to the Hollywood crowd increasingly gravitating toward the Royal Oak's integrated-bracelet aesthetic.

The ref. 26320ST measures 41mm in stainless steel and is powered by the manufacture calibre 2385 — an integrated, self-winding column-wheel chronograph movement with a lateral clutch, offering approximately 40 hours of power reserve. Beating at 21,600 vph (3Hz), the movement is visible through a sapphire caseback and represents decades of in-house chronograph development at Le Brassus. The dial retains the signature 'Grande Tapisserie' guilloche pattern, applied Royal Oak logo, and contrasting chronograph counters arranged in a tricompax layout — a layout that balances legibility with the architectural geometry the Royal Oak is famous for.

The 26320ST entered the catalogue as a successor to the much-celebrated ref. 26300ST, refining the case architecture and updating bracelet finishing. Collectors regard it as one of the cleaner, less overtly flashy Royal Oak chronograph variants — appreciated for its wearability and the relative restraint of its steel configuration compared to precious-metal alternatives. On the secondary market, stainless Royal Oak chronographs consistently punch above their retail weight, reflecting deep and durable collector demand for integrated-bracelet sports watches from the top Swiss manufactures.

Manganiello has long signalled a genuine enthusiasm for horology beyond the celebrity-watch-as-accessory cliché. His public appearances have featured a range of serious references, and the 26320ST fits a collector profile that values technical substance alongside the Royal Oak's undeniable visual authority. For an actor whose physical presence tends to dominate a frame, choosing a 41mm steel chronograph over a more ostentatious gold or bejewelled variant says something considered.

At UK list pricing around £20,000, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26320ST commands a significant premium on the grey market, where demand for steel Royal Oaks — chronograph or otherwise — has remained elevated well above retail for several years.