Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Franck Ribéry spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Franck Ribéry was photographed wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore reference 25721ST during his signing ceremony with Fiorentina, the storied Florentine club, marking one of the most talked-about transfers in Italian football that summer. The image circulated widely, and the watch on his wrist proved every bit as worthy of attention as the contract on the table.

The Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721ST is the original Offshore — the very first generation released in 1993, conceived by then-22-year-old designer Emmanuel Gueit and initially dubbed 'The Beast' by AP insiders, not entirely as a compliment. Measuring 42mm in full stainless steel, it was a dramatic departure from the original Gerald Genta-designed Royal Oak of 1972. The case features the signature octagonal bezel secured by eight exposed hexagonal screws, a stepped and heavily textured 'Méga Tapisserie' dial, and the distinctive crown-protecting rubber bumper that became an Offshore hallmark. Powering the ref. 25721ST is the Audemars Piguet calibre 2226/2840, a self-winding movement offering hours, minutes, seconds, and date — robust and reliable, if not the most technically complex in the AP arsenal.

Among collectors, the first-generation Offshore occupies a specific and respected niche. It represents a moment when AP deliberately courted a younger, sportier demographic without abandoning the Royal Oak's foundational design language. Early examples in full steel, like the 25721ST, are considered the purest expression of that intent — unencumbered by precious metals and worn hard. Condition-dependent examples continue to attract serious collector interest on the secondary market.

Ribéry's affinity for statement timepieces is well documented throughout his career at Bayern Munich and beyond. Choosing the 25721ST — a watch with genuine historical weight rather than simply an expensive showpiece — suggests a collector's eye rather than a stylist's impulse.

The Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721ST carried a UK list price of approximately £22,409 at the time of the sighting. On the grey market, clean examples in good condition typically trade at or modestly above retail, reflecting steady but measured collector demand for this foundational reference.