Watch Paparazzi

Mixed martial artist Khabib Nurmagomedov spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Khabib Nurmagomedov was spotted wearing a stainless steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon, reference 25977ST, in the build-up to his blockbuster lightweight title defence against Conor McGregor — a sighting that drew as much attention from watch enthusiasts as it did from fight fans.

The Royal Oak Tourbillon ref. 25977ST is a technically formidable timepiece built around Audemars Piguet's Calibre 2874, a hand-wound movement featuring a flying tourbillon at 6 o'clock and a power reserve indicator discreetly positioned on the dial. The movement operates at 21,600 vph and delivers approximately 70 hours of power reserve. True to the Royal Oak bloodline established by Gerald Genta in 1972, the 39mm octagonal case retains the signature "Grande Tapisserie" dial, exposed hex-head screws on the bezel, and the seamlessly integrated brushed and polished steel bracelet that defined the luxury sports watch genre.

What makes the 25977ST particularly significant among collectors is the choice of material. Tourbillon complications in stainless steel were — and remain — genuinely uncommon in the Royal Oak catalogue. AP has historically reserved the most complex movements for precious metal cases, making a steel Royal Oak Tourbillon a deliberately contrarian and collector-prized configuration. The reference enjoys a strong reputation on the secondary market precisely because it occupies the intersection of wearability and mechanical prestige that defines the Royal Oak ethos at its best.

Nurmagomedov's choice of the 25977ST aligns with a taste profile increasingly common among elite athletes who favour technically serious watches over pure status symbols. The Dagestani fighter, who would go on to submit McGregor in the fourth round and retire with a perfect 29-0 record, has built a public image rooted in discipline and substance — qualities the steel Royal Oak Tourbillon arguably reflects better than a flashier gem-set alternative.

At a UK list price of approximately £180,000, the Royal Oak Tourbillon ref. 25977ST sits firmly in serious complication territory. On the grey market, demand for steel Royal Oak tourbillons consistently pushes values above retail, with comparable references trading at meaningful premiums among informed collectors.