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Footballer Bernardo Silva spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Bernardo Silva, the Portuguese playmaker long established as one of Manchester City's most reliable creative forces, was recently spotted wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak in stainless steel with a black dial — specifically the reference 15400ST.OO.1220ST.01, a variant that has consistently attracted collectors who prefer the dramatic contrast of the dark dial against the brushed and polished steel case.

The Royal Oak 15400ST was produced from 2012 until 2020, when Audemars Piguet retired it in favour of the current 15500ST. At 41mm, the ref. 15400 offered a more contemporary wrist presence than its 39mm predecessor, the 15300ST, without sacrificing the architectural elegance of Gerald Genta's original 1972 design. Power comes from the in-house calibre 3120, a 60-jewel automatic movement beating at 21,600 vph with a 60-hour power reserve — a robust and well-regarded manufacture calibre. The tapisserie dial, with its fine small squares pattern, remains one of the most recognisable finishing details in watchmaking.

From a collector's standpoint, the 15400ST occupies a nuanced position. It was discontinued after eight years in production, and while it lacks the rarity of earlier references, the black dial variant has proven particularly resilient in the secondary market. Its successor, the 15500ST, introduced a new movement and a slightly revised dial texture, making the 15400 a distinct generation in Royal Oak history — sought after by those who prefer the calibre 3120's characteristics over the newer 7121.

Silva's choice reflects a broader pattern among elite European footballers who gravitate toward the Royal Oak as the benchmark for understated luxury. The watch functions as a status symbol without ostentation — appropriate for a player whose game is defined by intelligence over flash.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15400ST carried a UK list price of approximately £15,000 during its production run. On the grey market, demand for clean examples with full set — box, papers, service history — has kept values firm, with the black dial variant commanding a modest premium over the blue and silver iterations.