Pilot Lewis Hamilton spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Lewis Hamilton was recently spotted on the wrist wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph in 18k pink gold, reference 26401RO — a piece that sits firmly at the top end of the Offshore lineup and commands immediate attention even among seasoned collectors.

The 26401RO is built around a 44mm pink gold case paired with an integrated pink gold bracelet, retaining the signature octagonal bezel and "Méga Tapisserie" dial pattern that Gerald Genta's original 1993 Offshore design made iconic. Inside runs the AP calibre 3126/3840, a self-winding movement with column-wheel chronograph, 21k gold rotor, and approximately 50 hours of power reserve. The combination of a flyback-capable chronograph and the substantial precious metal case places this reference squarely in grand complications territory for the sports watch segment.

The Royal Oak Offshore in rose gold carries particular weight among AP collectors. Where stainless steel Offshore references trade heavily on the grey market and often prove difficult to acquire at retail, the precious metal variants occupy a different tier — fewer units produced, a more deliberate purchase, and a longer shelf life as statement pieces. The 26401RO has remained a reference point for collectors who want the Offshore's athletic DNA without any ambiguity about where it sits in the luxury hierarchy.

Hamilton's affinity for bold horology is well documented. The Mercedes-AMG and Ferrari driver — seven-time F1 World Champion — has been associated with Audemars Piguet at various points in his career and consistently gravitates toward large-cased, visually commanding pieces that hold their own against the scale of his public profile. The 26401RO is exactly the kind of watch that works in that context.

At UK retail the 26401RO was listed around £30,000, translating to approximately $38,000 USD at the time of its active production run. On the secondary market, rose gold Offshore references in this configuration have traded between $35,000 and $50,000 depending on condition, box and papers, and prevailing gold prices — a relatively stable corridor for a precious-metal sports chronograph of this pedigree.