Watch Paparazzi

Actor Sanjay Dutt spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Sanjay Dutt was recently photographed wearing what is unmistakably one of Audemars Piguet's most desirable steel-alternative configurations — the Royal Oak Chronograph reference 26331OR in 18k pink gold, paired with a blue Grande Tapisserie dial and a contrasting alligator leather strap. For a personality of Dutt's cultural weight in the subcontinent, the choice is both logical and telling.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26331OR measures 41mm in diameter and 10.7mm in thickness — remarkably svelte for a chronograph of this complication level. At its heart beats the in-house calibre 2385, a column-wheel integrated chronograph movement with automatic winding via a peripheral rotor, beating at 21,600 vph and offering approximately 40 hours of power reserve. The blue dial — one of AP's signature colorways — features the iconic Grande Tapisserie pattern, the stepped hobnail texture that has defined Royal Oak aesthetics since Gerald Genta's original 1972 design. Sub-registers sit at 3 and 9 o'clock, with a date aperture at 4:30. The 18k pink gold case and octagonal bezel secured by eight hexagonal screws complete an unmistakable silhouette.

Among collectors, the 26331OR occupies a nuanced position. Pink gold Royal Oaks carry a premium aura — they are rarer in production than steel references and attract buyers who want the full AP luxury experience without the comparative ubiquity of stainless. The blue dial variant in particular has become a collector favourite, combining warmth of metal with the cool intellectual depth of the colour. It is not a watch that whispers; it commands attention from those who know what they are looking at.

Sanjay Dutt, whose career spans five decades and more than 187 films — earning him two Filmfare Awards and three Screen Awards — has long cultivated an image that balances raw physicality with unexpected refinement. The Royal Oak Chronograph ref. 26331OR aligns precisely with that duality: a sports watch by lineage, a luxury object by execution.

At official retail the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 26331OR lists in the region of $40,000 USD. On the secondary market, pink gold Royal Oak Chronographs in desirable dial configurations consistently hold value, with clean examples trading at or modestly above retail depending on provenance and box-and-papers completeness.