Footballer Pablo Zabaleta spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Pablo Zabaleta, the Argentine defender who spent the better part of a decade as one of Manchester City's most dependable right-backs, was recently spotted wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore in 18kt pink gold, reference 26470OR.OO — a piece that sits firmly at the more extravagant end of the Royal Oak family.

The ref. 26470OR is built around the calibre 3126/3840, an automatic movement with a 60-hour power reserve offering chronograph functionality. The 42mm pink gold case carries the Offshore's signature "Méga Tapisserie" dial pattern and rubber-integrated bracelet, blending haute horology finishing with the robust, oversized aesthetic that Gerald Genta's original 1972 Royal Oak design eventually evolved into. The pink gold version, introduced as part of AP's broader push into precious metal sports watches, replaces the steel case with 18kt rose gold throughout — case, bezel, and bracelet — making for a watch that weighs substantially more than its steel siblings and announces itself accordingly.

Among collectors, the Royal Oak Offshore in precious metals occupies an interesting niche. Purists often gravitate toward the stainless steel references for their scarcity and understated credibility, but pink gold Offshore models attract buyers who want the sport-luxury crossover without apology. The 26470OR has held reasonably stable grey-market values given the intrinsic metal content acts as a floor on pricing. It remains a serious piece, not a fashion artifact.

Zabaleta, who made over 230 appearances for Manchester City across two Premier League title campaigns, has long been associated with the club's Argentine community and its associated culture of visible success. Footballers of his generation — competing during the explosion of Premier League wealth — developed genuinely sophisticated watch tastes, and a pink gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 26470OR is exactly the kind of considered, high-value choice that reflects that maturation.

At UK list price of approximately £33,000, the 26470OR sits in the upper register of the Offshore range. On the secondary market, pink gold Offshore references tend to trade at or modestly above retail, underpinned by the melt value of the gold content — a dynamic that gives this reference unusual price stability compared to steel sports watches currently subject to heavy market fluctuation.