Footballer Isco spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Isco — Francisco Alarcón Suárez — was recently photographed sporting one of Audemars Piguet's most unapologetically bold statements: the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph in 18k rose gold, reference 26401RO.OO.A002CA.02. The sighting fits a player whose creative, instinctive style of football has always carried a certain extravagance.

The 26401RO is a 44mm powerhouse built entirely in 18k rose gold, from its octagonal bezel secured by eight characteristic exposed hex screws to its integrated bracelet. The black dial showcases AP's signature "Mega Tapisserie" pattern — a scaled-up version of the Grande Tapisserie found on the classic Royal Oak — giving the surface a three-dimensional texture that interacts dramatically with light. Beneath the dial sits the calibre 3126/3840, a self-winding integrated column-wheel chronograph movement with a 21,600 vph frequency and approximately 50 hours of power reserve. Water resistance is rated to 100 metres, a concession to the Offshore's original 1993 brief as a sportier, more robust sibling to the Royal Oak.

The Royal Oak Offshore was conceived by Emmanuel Gueit and launched in 1993, initially nicknamed "The Beast" within AP for its audacious enlargement of Gérald Genta's 1972 Royal Oak blueprint. The rose gold chronograph variant like the 26401RO occupies a specific collector niche: it carries the wearability and legibility of a sport chronograph while demanding the premium associated with a solid precious-metal case. That combination keeps demand consistently high among footballers, musicians, and watch collectors who want presence without resorting to a dress watch.

Isco has built a career on moments of individual brilliance at clubs including Málaga, Real Madrid, and Sevilla, as well as earning significant caps for the Spanish national team. Off the pitch, his watch choices have reflected a preference for bold, recognisable references — and the 26401RO, instantly identifiable at any distance, fits that profile precisely.

At official retail the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ref. 26401RO.OO.A002CA.02 carried a price in the region of $45,000 USD. On the secondary market, rose gold Offshore chronographs in this reference have historically traded close to or modestly above retail, supported by the enduring global appetite for AP's Offshore line and the intrinsic value of the 18k rose gold case.