Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Alexander Milosevic spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Alexander Milosevic, the Swedish centre-back currently defending for Besiktas in the Turkish Süper Lig, was recently spotted with a substantial piece of haute horology on his wrist: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph reference 26400SO.OO.A002CA.01, a watch that makes no concessions in either size or presence.

Introduced as part of AP's broader 26400 series refresh, the ref. 26400SO.OO.A002CA.01 measures 44mm in stainless steel with a signature black ceramic bezel — the 'SO' in the reference denoting the steel-and-ceramic configuration. The dial is executed in forged carbon, giving each example a unique patterning that no two pieces share exactly. Chronograph pushers, the iconic octagonal bezel screws, and a black rubber strap with a titanium deployant buckle complete the package. The movement is the in-house calibre 3126/3840, a self-winding integrated column-wheel chronograph with a vertical clutch, offering a 50-hour power reserve and a frequency of 21,600 vph.

The Royal Oak Offshore itself was launched in 1993, designed by Emmanuel Gueit as an oversized, sport-aggressive evolution of Gerald Genta's original 1972 Royal Oak. Where the classic Royal Oak was a statement in its day at 39mm, the Offshore pushed boundaries further and has never looked back. The 26400-series references represent a mature, technically refined iteration of that lineage, appreciated by collectors for their movement quality and the relative restraint of their execution compared to some of the more embellished Offshore variants.

Milosevic, who has previously played for clubs including AIK, Nottingham Forest, and Adana Demirspor, fits a well-established profile of elite European footballers who gravitate toward the Royal Oak Offshore. The watch's size, legibility, and brand cachet make it a perennial choice in dressing rooms across the continent, and the ceramic-bezel variant sits in a sweet spot — distinctive without veering into the overtly jewelled territory some peers prefer.

On the market, the 26400SO.OO.A002CA.01 retails in the region of $38,000 USD at authorised dealers, though access through official channels remains characteristically difficult for AP's Offshore line. On the grey market, examples have been trading at or slightly above retail, reflecting continued demand and constrained supply — a familiar story for this manufacture.