Actor Akhil Akkineni spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Akhil Akkineni, one of Telugu cinema's most closely watched young actors, was recently spotted wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 'Panda' in stainless steel, reference 26170ST.OO.1000ST.01 — a model that quietly commands serious respect among AP collectors despite rarely generating the headline frenzy of its more limited siblings.

The 26170ST is a 42mm steel sports chronograph built around AP's in-house Calibre 3126/3840, a column-wheel movement with a vertical clutch, 40-hour power reserve in its base form (extended to 50 hours in later executions), and a 21,600 vph beat rate. The movement is housed in the Royal Oak Offshore's signature octagonal bezel with exposed screws, sapphire caseback, and water resistance to 100 metres. The 'Panda' designation refers specifically to the white lacquered dial set against black counters at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock — a high-contrast layout that improves legibility and gives the piece a sportier, almost motorsport-inflected character compared to the monochromatic AP Offshore variants.

Historically, the Royal Oak Offshore was Emmanuel Gueit's provocative 1993 expansion of Genta's 1972 Royal Oak — bigger, bolder, and initially controversial within the industry. The 26170ST represents the line in its most classical non-limited expression: no carbon fibre, no ceramic, no celebrity co-sign. That restraint is precisely what makes it interesting to collectors. It is a pure, unadorned Offshore, and the Panda dial configuration is among the most enduring and legible treatments in the reference family.

Akhil Akkineni, the son of legendary Tollywood actor Nagarjuna and a prominent figure in South Indian cinema in his own right, has developed a visible taste for technically serious timepieces. The 26170ST is a considered choice — substantial enough to register on screen and in public, but grounded in mechanical substance rather than spectacle.

On the secondary market, the 26170ST Panda trades in a range consistent with its retail positioning. Official list price sits at approximately $26,000, and grey-market premiums on this reference have remained relatively modest compared to rarer AP references, making it one of the more attainable entry points into the Royal Oak Offshore chronograph family for serious buyers.