Footballer Virgil Van Dijk spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Virgil Van Dijk, the Liverpool FC and Netherlands international widely regarded as one of the finest central defenders of his generation, was photographed wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openwork All Black Ceramic, reference 26585CE — a piece that sits firmly at the intersection of haute horlogerie and avant-garde design.

The 26585CE is built around the self-winding Calibre 5134, a movement that traces its perpetual calendar architecture back to the historic Calibre 2120/2800 developed in the 1970s. Running at 19,800 vph with a 40-hour power reserve, the movement is fully skeletonised, exposing the intricate perpetual calendar mechanism through a dramatically open-worked dial. The 41mm case and integrated bracelet are rendered entirely in black ceramic — a material prized for its resistance to scratching and its deep, non-reflective finish. Day, date, month, moon phase, and leap-year indication are all present, with the perpetual calendar requiring no manual correction until the year 2100.

From a collector's perspective, the all-ceramic Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openwork occupies rare territory. Ceramic Royal Oaks have always attracted a premium on the secondary market, and the combination of full skeletonisation with a perpetual calendar complication in a monochromatic execution makes the 26585CE one of the more elusive references in recent AP production. It appeals equally to serious complication collectors and to those drawn by the watch's visual drama — a relatively uncommon overlap.

Van Dijk finished runner-up to Lionel Messi at the 2019 Ballon d'Or, the closest a defender has come to winning the award in decades. His watch choices have consistently reflected a genuine engagement with high-end horology rather than straightforward brand endorsement, and the 26585CE fits that profile precisely — it is not the most immediately legible AP in the catalogue, but it rewards closer attention, much like his positional play.

At UK list price of approximately £102,000, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openwork 26585CE commands a significant premium even within the Royal Oak family. On the grey market, examples trade at or above retail, reflecting sustained demand and limited availability — making Van Dijk's wrist a highly credible showcase for one of AP's more serious technical statements.