Footballer Declan Rice spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Declan Rice was photographed traveling to Prague ahead of West Ham United's UEFA Europa Conference League Final against Fiorentina in June 2023 — a historic occasion for the club, and apparently one worth dressing for. On his wrist: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph in black ceramic, reference 26240CE, one of the most coveted pieces to emerge from the Royal Oak's landmark anniversary year.

The 26240CE was unveiled as part of Audemars Piguet's 50th anniversary celebration of the Royal Oak, the iconic Gerald Genta-designed sports watch that debuted in 1972. The black ceramic version stands out even within a celebrated family: the case and integrated bracelet are rendered entirely in high-tech black ceramic, a material that demands intensive machining and finishing to achieve the Royal Oak's signature mix of brushed and polished surfaces. The watch measures 41mm and houses the Calibre 4401, a flyback chronograph movement that marked a significant milestone for AP — its first integrated chronograph calibre with a column-wheel and lateral clutch mechanism, offering a smoother, more precise chronograph engagement than its predecessors.

From a collector's standpoint, the 26240CE occupies rarified territory. The 50th anniversary Royal Oak references collectively attracted extraordinary demand, but the full-ceramic chronograph — with its technical complexity and unforgiving manufacturing tolerances — represents the most ambitious execution of the concept. Waiting lists at authorised dealers have remained long since launch, and grey-market premiums reflect that scarcity without hesitation.

Rice, then still a West Ham player before his record-breaking move to Arsenal later that summer, was heading into one of the biggest matches in his club's modern history. He has developed a reputation as a serious watch collector for his age, and the 26240CE is not an impulse buy — it signals genuine engagement with the category.

At retail, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 26240CE carries a list price of approximately $74,600. On the secondary market, the reference trades significantly above that, with current grey-market valuations sitting around $172,000 — a premium of more than 130 percent over retail that underscores just how difficult this piece remains to acquire through official channels.