Watch Paparazzi

Musician DJ AfroJack spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Afrojack — born Nick van de Wall — was recently spotted on the wrist with one of Audemars Piguet's most uncompromising sport-luxury pieces: the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph in forged ceramic, reference 26405CE.OO.A002CA.01. The sighting adds another noteworthy chapter to the Dutch DJ's well-documented enthusiasm for serious horology.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ref. 26405CE is built around a 44mm forged ceramic case, a construction that demands significantly more complex machining than conventional ceramic and produces a distinctively deep, uniform matte black finish. The case is paired with a matching forged ceramic bracelet and ceramic deployant clasp, making it one of the most cohesive all-ceramic executions the manufacture has produced. The black dial carries the signature Offshore "Mega Tapisserie" texture, with contrasting grey subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, white gold applied indices, and the brand's signature octagonal crown guards.

Powering the 26405CE is the Calibre 3126/3840, an in-house integrated automatic movement beating at 21,600 vph with a column-wheel chronograph mechanism and a 60-hour power reserve. The movement is visible through a sapphire caseback, finished to Audemars Piguet's standard with Geneva stripes and beveled bridges. Water resistance is rated to 100 metres — appropriate for a piece whose lineage traces directly to the Gerald Genta-designed original Royal Oak and the oversized Offshore that debuted in 1993.

Among collectors, the all-ceramic Offshore occupies a specific niche: it delivers the Offshore's bold proportions and mechanical depth without the fingerprint-prone surface of polished steel or the premium of precious metals. The forged ceramic variant consistently holds value in the secondary market, aided by limited production and AP's reputation for restricting supply. It is a watch that appeals to collectors who want substance behind the statement.

Afrojack has long been associated with high-end timepieces, and the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ref. 26405CE fits his profile precisely — large, technically serious, and visually unambiguous. Retail pricing sits at approximately £27,000 in the UK market, with grey-market values tracking above list given persistent demand for ceramic AP references.