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Football manager Luciano Spalletti spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Luciano Spalletti, the head coach of the Italian national football team and one of Serie A's most decorated managers, was recently spotted wearing a stainless steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ref. 26170ST — a discontinued reference that occupies a quietly respected corner of the Offshore catalogue. The watch was paired with its original matching leather strap, keeping the overall look notably composed for a line not traditionally associated with restraint.

The Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ref. 26170ST measures 42mm in stainless steel — smaller than the 44mm and 45mm references that dominate the Offshore family — and houses the calibre 3126/3840, a self-winding column-wheel chronograph movement with a 40-hour power reserve. The black dial features the signature Offshore 'Méga Tapisserie' pattern, with contrasting subdials at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock and a date window at 4:30. Water resistance stands at 100 metres. The reference was produced as part of AP's effort to offer a slightly more wearable Offshore format, bridging the original Royal Oak's dress credentials with the Offshore's sport-luxury character.

Among collectors, the 26170ST earns its place as a transitional piece. Purists who find the standard Offshore too aggressive appreciate its proportions; Offshore devotees respect its mechanical credentials and the legitimate bloodline it carries. The discontinuation of the reference has steadily elevated its status — it no longer appears in AP boutiques, which concentrates demand on the secondary market and keeps prices firm without the speculative volatility that afflicts some current-production references.

Spalletti, who led Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years in the 2022-23 season before taking charge of the Azzurri, has cultivated a public image that is thoughtful and quietly confident — qualities the 26170ST reflects reasonably well. A former midfielder turned tactician, he is not a figure associated with overt luxury display, making the measured scale of this particular Offshore a credible fit.

On the grey market, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ref. 26170ST in stainless steel with a black dial trades at a premium over its original retail price, reflecting both the brand's sustained heat and the reference's discontinued status. Buyers looking for an entry into the Offshore chronograph world without committing to current oversized formats will find this reference a compelling, if increasingly scarce, option.