Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Kaka spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Kaka, the 2007 Ballon d'Or winner and former AC Milan and Real Madrid midfielder, was recently spotted wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 15400ST — a choice that sits comfortably at the intersection of understated luxury and horological credibility. The sighting underlines a long-standing affinity between elite footballers and the Royal Oak, a watch that has never needed a celebrity endorsement to justify its place at the top of the market.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 15400ST measures 41mm in stainless steel and sits 9.8mm thin on the wrist — a genuinely slim profile for a watch of this presence. It is powered by the manufacture Calibre 3120, an automatic movement with a 60-hour power reserve, 21,600 vph frequency, and a rotor that Audemars Piguet exposes through a sapphire caseback to show its finishing. The integrated bracelet, tapisserie dial, and bevelled octagonal bezel with eight hexagonal screws remain faithful to Gerald Genta's original 1972 blueprint, which famously launched at the same price as a gold watch despite being made entirely in steel.

The 15400ST replaced the 15300ST in 2012, bringing with it the upgraded 3120 calibre and a slightly larger 41mm case to meet contemporary taste. It was itself succeeded by the Ref. 15500ST in 2019, which introduced a new dial design and thinner lugs. That generational progression has made the 15400ST a definitive transitional reference — collectible without yet commanding the extreme premiums of earlier "JLC-era" Royal Oaks, making it a rational entry point for serious collectors.

Kaka retired from professional football in 2017 after a career that took him from São Paulo to the very summit of the European game. He remains an ambassador figure in football culture and has maintained a polished, considered public image since hanging up his boots. His choice of the Royal Oak 15400ST — rather than something flashier — is consistent with that reputation.

On the grey market, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 15400ST in stainless steel continues to trade above its original retail price, reflecting persistent demand that AP's controlled production has never been able to satisfy. It remains one of the benchmark references for anyone building a serious sport-luxe collection.