Footballer Toni Kroos spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Toni Kroos, the retired German midfielder and backbone of Real Madrid's midfield dynasty, was recently photographed wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 26400SO—a white gold sports chronograph valued at approximately $210,000. The wrist shot captures Kroos in a relaxed portrait setting, displaying the tool watch that echoes his on-field philosophy: precision engineering married to understated sophistication.

The Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 26400SO represents Audemars Piguet's commitment to robust functionality within the luxury sports watch category. The 42 mm white gold case houses the proprietary Calibre 3126/3840 automatic movement, a chronograph mechanism delivering 50 hours of power reserve and chronograph accuracy across three integrated subdials. The black sunburst dial features applied white gold hour markers and luminous hands, while a date aperture sits at 3 o'clock. Water resistance extends to 100 metres—sufficient for daily wear despite the precious-metal construction. The octagonal bezel, Audemars Piguet's signature design language inherited from the original 1972 Royal Oak, is fitted here in white gold with visible screw-down bezels, and the watch rides on a black rubber strap secured by a white gold deployant buckle.

The 26400SO entered production in 2018 as an update to the earlier 26400 model, introducing the in-house Calibre 3126/3840 in place of the Zenith El Primero movement. This generational shift marked Audemars Piguet's assertion of vertical control over the Offshore chronograph line. Variants include stainless steel (26400SO.OO.A002CA.01), titanium, and rose gold editions; the white gold version remains the most coveted among collectors owing to its exclusivity and manufacturing complexity.

Kroos's choice of the Offshore Chronograph aligns with the watch's positioning among footballers and high-net-worth athletes. Unlike dive watches or dress pieces, the Offshore bridges the gap between sport utility and luxury statement—a practical chronograph that acknowledges both function and prestige. His tenure at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, spanning three Champions League titles with Bayern and three with Madrid, established him as one of the sport's most cerebral players; the watch mirrors that calculated excellence.

Retail pricing for the 26400SO in white gold ranges from approximately $70,000 to $85,000 depending on configuration and market. The secondary market presently values examples between $95,000 and $210,000, with white gold variants commanding premiums owing to limited annual production—typically fewer than 500 units per reference across all metals. Waitlists at authorised dealers remain substantial, making acquisition through grey-market channels common among serious collectors.