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Footballer Karim Benzema spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Karim Benzema, the legendary Real Madrid striker and current Al-Ittihad forward, was spotted wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon KAWS Companion in a recent Instagram post shared on March 3, 2025. The 43-millimetre titanium sports watch immediately signals its conceptual ambition: a fusion of high watchmaking and street-art aesthetics that few brands attempt at this level of execution.

The Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon KAWS Companion features Audemars Piguet's in-house hand-wound tourbillon calibre, visible through a carefully engineered aperture that frames the one-second tourbillon cage in constant rotation. The entire case, lugs, and crown are forged from grade-5 titanium, reducing weight while maintaining the Royal Oak's angular, modernist geometry. The dial plate itself employs a sunburst motif finished in alternating satin-brushed and sandblasted titanium, creating visual depth that shifts under light. The KAWS character—a signature dissected form—sits mounted as a miniature 3D sculpture in solid titanium, functioning as the visual centrepiece above the tourbillon. Water resistance reaches 100 metres, adequate for daily wear despite the watch's avant-garde positioning.

Audemars Piguet produced the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon KAWS Companion as a limited collaboration, eschewing mass production in favour of controlled scarcity. The reference 26656TI.GG.D019VE.01 represents a rare intersection: the Royal Oak Concept's technical complexity paired with KAWS' collectible cultural cachet. Earlier Concept models explored transparency and architectural transparency; this iteration privileges artistic statement alongside horological substance. The titanium case avoids the preciousness of white gold variants, positioning the watch as a contemporary art object rather than heritage heirloom.

Benzema's wrist choice underscores a broader shift among high-net-worth athletes toward watches that signal taste beyond traditional luxury codes. The footballer has previously worn standard sports watches; selecting the KAWS Companion reveals an appetite for conceptual, limited-production timepieces that resonate with collectors over generations. The pairing feels deliberate—a 43mm titanium statement piece on someone accustomed to commanding attention on pitch and in public life.

Retail pricing for the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon KAWS Companion sits around $105,000 USD, though secondary-market availability remains sparse. Pre-owned examples command premiums ranging from $115,000 to $135,000 USD depending on condition and provenance, reflecting the collaboration's limited production and crossover appeal to both watch and art collectors. Waitlists at authorised Audemars Piguet retailers typically extend 18–24 months, making grey-market acquisition the primary route for serious buyers.