Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Ross Barkley spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Ross Barkley, the Everton FC attacking midfielder known for his powerful drives and technical flair on the pitch, was recently spotted off the field wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph in reference 25940OK — one of the most commanding variants in the entire Offshore catalogue.

The 25940OK is built around a solid 18k rose gold case measuring 44mm in diameter, paired with a matching rose gold bracelet and a black ceramic bezel. The dial, typically rendered in a deep, textured finish with contrasting subdials, carries all three chronograph registers and the date function. Power comes from the manufacture calibre 3126/3840 — a self-winding movement with column wheel chronograph control, a 22k gold rotor, and approximately 50 hours of power reserve. The movement is visible through a sapphire caseback, revealing finishing that justifies the price of entry.

The Royal Oak Offshore was launched in 1993 as a deliberately oversized, sportier descendant of the original Royal Oak — itself a revolutionary 1972 design by Gerald Genta that introduced the luxury sports watch category. The Offshore was initially divisive among purists but became a cultural phenomenon, particularly in hip-hop and sports circles. The rose gold chronograph references, including the 25940OK, represent the line at its most opulent — retaining the Offshore's muscular DNA while adding precious metal gravitas.

Among collectors, the 25940OK commands respect as a full rose gold Offshore that predates the current generation's more refined 26400 series. Its 44mm sizing is bold, and the combination of ceramic and gold is technically and aesthetically deliberate. Pre-owned examples in good condition hold value reliably, and rose gold AP Offshores consistently attract strong grey-market interest.

Barkley's choice of this particular reference is telling. At the time of the sighting, still central to Everton's midfield ambitions, he wore the 25940OK as a footballer accustomed to high-stakes environments — a watch that matches that register without apology. At a UK RRP of approximately £25,000, it sits firmly in the serious luxury tier, where horological substance and precious metal converge.