Footballer Virgil Van Dijk spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

At a glitzy football awards ceremony, Virgil Van Dijk — widely regarded as the best central defender of his generation — stepped onto the stage in a dark green suit to collect his award, a skeletonized Audemars Piguet Royal Oak visible on his wrist. The choice was fitting: a watch that commands the room without shouting, much like the man himself.

The reference in question is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked, reference 26730ST.OO.1320ST.02, released as part of the Royal Oak's 50th anniversary celebrations in 2022. The 41mm stainless steel case — just 10.6mm thick, a remarkable engineering achievement given the movement complexity — houses Calibre 2954, a manually-wound flying tourbillon with a 65-hour power reserve. The dial is fully openworked, exposing the bridges and mainplate finished to AP's exacting standards, with a rhodium-toned treatment, white gold applied indices, and a slate grey inner bezel providing depth and contrast. The integrated stainless steel bracelet, itself a hallmark of the original Royal Oak concept, completes the ensemble.

The flying tourbillon configuration — where the carriage floats without an upper bridge — offers an unobstructed view of the regulating organ, a detail that collectors prize enormously. Within the 50th anniversary Royal Oak family, the skeletonized tourbillon represents the technical apex, sitting above the openworked perpetual calendar and the standard selfwinding references in both complexity and price. Its stainless steel execution is particularly coveted: AP's decision to produce such a complicated movement in steel rather than precious metal is a philosophical statement consistent with the original 1972 Royal Oak's luxury-in-steel positioning.

Van Dijk has long demonstrated a preference for serious horology. He is an AP ambassador, and his wrist has been documented across multiple Royal Oak references. Choosing the 50th anniversary flying tourbillon for a high-profile public appearance signals an understanding of the watch beyond mere brand loyalty — this is a piece for someone who knows what they are wearing.

On the secondary market, demand for this reference has been strong since launch. Grey market premiums have moderated from initial spikes but remain meaningful, with examples trading noticeably above the $242,000 retail price. Waitlists at authorized dealers remain substantial, making this a watch that requires both means and a relationship with an AD to acquire.