Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Ernesto Bertarelli spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Spotted on the wrist of Swiss-Italian billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Alinghi Polaris ref. 26040ST is arguably the most personally meaningful timepiece he could have chosen — because he commissioned it. Bertarelli co-developed the watch with Audemars Piguet following Alinghi's second consecutive America's Cup triumph in Valencia in 2007, one of the most dominant periods in the modern history of the competition.

The 26040ST is built around the in-house calibre 2385, a movement Audemars Piguet engineered from scratch for this collaboration rather than adapting an existing base. The key technical achievement is the regatta chronograph with flyback function — a countdown mechanism that cycles through the precise pre-start sequence used in match racing, resetting instantly at the touch of a pusher. The movement beats at 21,600 vph and offers approximately 40 hours of power reserve. The 44mm stainless steel case follows the classic Royal Oak Offshore architecture with its integrated rubber-clad crown guards and octagonal bezel, but the blue and silver dial carries Alinghi's distinctive polaris star motif and nautical colour language throughout.

From a collector standpoint, the 26040ST occupies a specific niche: it is a purpose-built sports tool watch with a legitimate technical raison d'être, not a marketing exercise. The regatta complication is genuinely functional, and the 2,000-piece limitation has kept supply tight relative to sustained demand from both AP completists and sailing world devotees. It surfaces infrequently at auction and, when it does, commands a meaningful premium over its original retail price.

Ernesto Bertarelli founded Alinghi in 2000 and led the syndicate to Cup victories in Auckland in 2003 and Valencia in 2007. His family fortune derives from the biotechnology group Serono, and he has since diversified into ocean racing, philanthropy, and investment. Wearing the 26040ST is, for Bertarelli, less a style statement than a personal historical document strapped to his wrist.

On the secondary market, clean examples of the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Alinghi Polaris ref. 26040ST consistently trade above the original list price, reflecting both the desirability of the Offshore Chronograph platform and the cultural resonance of the Alinghi partnership. Collectors seeking one should budget for grey-market premiums and verify the signature polaris dial for service-related replacements.