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Tennis player Gaël Monfils spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Gaël Monfils has never been shy about his passion for horology, and this latest wrist shot confirms he continues to operate at the very highest level of the hobby. The French tennis ace — currently ranked among the ATP's elite — is seen here sporting what is almost certainly the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in platinum, reference 26574PT.OO.1220PT.01, limited to just 50 examples worldwide. The ice-blue dial, paired with the satin-brushed and bevelled platinum case and integrated bracelet, makes for an unmistakable combination.

The 26574PT houses Calibre 5134, a self-winding perpetual calendar movement measuring a remarkable 4.31mm in height — a genuine feat of miniaturisation given the complexity of the complications on display. The dial presents a full perpetual calendar readout: month via sub-dial at 12 o'clock, day of the week at 9, date at 3, week number around the outer chapter ring, and a moon-phase display at 6 o'clock, all set against the signature 'Grande Tapisserie' guilloche in a glacial ice-blue tone exclusive to platinum references. The 41mm case follows the iconic octagonal bezel with eight hexagonal screws, a design Gerald Genta conceived in 1972 that remains as relevant today as ever.

From a collector standpoint, a 50-piece platinum perpetual calendar is essentially the holy grail within the Royal Oak family. Platinum Royal Oaks have always commanded disproportionate respect in the secondary market — the material's rarity, weight and finishing properties elevate an already prestigious reference into genuinely scarce territory. The ice-blue dial colourway, reserved exclusively for platinum cases by AP, adds another layer of desirability that separates this piece from its stainless steel and rose gold siblings.

Monfils is one of professional tennis's most credible watch enthusiasts, with a collection reported to span Patek Philippe, Richard Mille and multiple AP references. His taste consistently skews toward high-complication pieces with strong aesthetic identities rather than trophy pieces worn for their logo alone. Spotting a 50-piece limited platinum perpetual calendar on a tennis court-side wrist is entirely on-brand.

Retail pricing for the 26574PT.OO.1220PT.01 sits north of $200,000, and given the 50-unit allocation, grey-market premiums are substantial. Completed auction results and private sales suggest the piece trades well above list, making this one of the few ultra-limited AP references where retail access is arguably more valuable than the watch itself.