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Tennis player Stanislas Wawrinka spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Stanislas Wawrinka, three-time Grand Slam champion and one of tennis's most recognisable wrist-watchers, has been spotted wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Extra-Thin in titanium and platinum, reference 26586IP — a piece that represents as much an engineering milestone as it does a collector's trophy.

Debuted at SIHH 2018 under the internal designation RD#2, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Extra-Thin ref. 26586IP was a statement of intent from Le Brassus. Its calibre 52602 measures a mere 2.89mm in height and drives a full perpetual calendar — displaying date, day, month, leap year, and moon phase — within a total case thickness of just 6.3mm. Achieving this required Audemars Piguet to completely reimagine the architecture of a perpetual calendar, integrating the mainspring barrel directly into the movement plate. The 41mm case combines a grade-5 titanium case body with a platinum octagonal bezel, a material pairing that reduces overall weight while preserving the visual authority of the Royal Oak silhouette.

Perhaps the most immediate departure from Royal Oak convention is the dial. Gone is the iconic Grande Tapisserie pattern, replaced by a smooth satin-brushed blue surface that prioritises legibility — essential given the volume of information a perpetual calendar must display. The result is cleaner, more contemporary, and arguably more wearable against a shirt cuff. Collectors noticed, and the reference quickly earned a reputation as one of the most technically serious pieces in the modern Royal Oak catalogue.

Wawrinka's relationship with Audemars Piguet runs deep. As a Swiss national and brand ambassador, he has been seen across a range of AP references over the years, but the 26586IP sits at the top of that hierarchy. It signals not just brand loyalty but genuine horological taste — this is a watch for someone who understands what they are wearing.

On the secondary market, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Extra-Thin ref. 26586IP commands a meaningful premium over its already substantial retail positioning, driven by limited production volumes and persistent demand from serious collectors. Given its record-holding movement and the enduring strength of the Royal Oak name, that dynamic shows no signs of reversing.