Footballer Marek Hamsik spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Marek Hamsik, Slovakia's most decorated footballer and one of Napoli's all-time greats, was photographed sporting an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ref. 26170ST — a watch as identifiable on the wrist as number 17 was on the pitch at the Stadio San Paolo. The image, shared to mark the midfielder's 35th birthday, gives a clean look at one of AP's most enduring steel sport references.

The Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ref. 26170ST measures 44mm in stainless steel and sits on a rubber-integrated bracelet that softens the case's characteristically angular architecture. Inside runs Audemars Piguet's calibre 3126/3840, a self-winding integrated movement with a column-wheel chronograph mechanism, 21,600 vph beat rate, and a 50-hour power reserve. The black "Grande Tapisserie" dial carries three contrasting subdials — hours, minutes, and a 30-minute counter — framed by AP's signature "Méga Tapisserie" pattern on the pushers and crown protector. Water resistance is rated to 100 metres.

The Offshore line was born in 1993 as Gerald Genta's deliberately provocative enlargement of the original Royal Oak concept. At 44mm it was considered almost unwearably large at launch; by the mid-2000s it had become the defining silhouette of the sport-luxury segment. The 26170ST, part of the second-generation Offshore family, retained all the design aggression of the original while refining finishing and legibility. It remains the quintessential entry point into AP's Offshore chronograph universe.

Hamsik captained Napoli for over a decade, becoming the club's all-time leading scorer before his record was surpassed by Lorenzo Insigne. His taste in watches has long reflected his profile — high-performance, internationally recognised, and built with genuine substance. The 26170ST suits that identity well: it is not a quiet watch, but it earns its presence.

On the secondary market, the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ref. 26170ST in stainless steel with a black dial trades steadily in the grey market. While more exotic limited editions command higher premiums, the steel black-dial configuration is valued for its versatility and clean execution, making it one of the more liquid Offshore references among collectors.