Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Sead Kolasinac spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Sead Kolasinac, the Bosnia and Herzegovina international and Arsenal full-back, was recently spotted wearing one of Audemars Piguet's most visually arresting sports watches: the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph in camouflage configuration, reference 26400SO. The sighting sits firmly within the tradition of Premier League footballers gravitating toward statement-level AP pieces, but the 26400SO is no generic flex — it is a watch with genuine technical and material substance behind its aggressive aesthetic.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Ref. 26400SO measures 44mm and is constructed from forged carbon — a composite material produced by compressing carbon fiber under heat and pressure, yielding a case that is both lighter than titanium and harder than steel, with a unique surface pattern that is never identical between two examples. The bezel is executed in black ceramic, adding scratch resistance to the package. Powering the chronograph is AP's in-house Calibre 3126/3840, a self-winding movement with column-wheel chronograph control, a 50-hour power reserve, and a flyback function on select references in the 26400 family. The signature tapisserie dial here is rendered in a military camouflage motif, coordinated with the rubber strap of the same pattern — a detail that sounds gimmicky on paper but reads as cohesive on the wrist.

The 26400SO occupies an interesting collector position within the broader Royal Oak Offshore universe. Forged carbon Offshore references consistently attract buyers who want the design language of the line without the weight of a steel or gold case. The camouflage treatment, meanwhile, has developed a dedicated following among enthusiasts who appreciate AP's willingness to push material and design boundaries beyond conventional luxury codes.

For Kolasinac — a player whose viral 2017 incident defending himself and teammate Mesut Özil from armed assailants earned him genuine cult status among Arsenal supporters — the 26400SO reads as an authentic choice rather than a stylist selection. The watch carries the same unapologetic physicality that defines his game.

The Royal Oak Offshore Ref. 26400SO carried a UK list price of approximately £26,100 at time of production. On the secondary market, forged carbon Offshore references in good condition with box and papers typically trade at or modestly above retail, reflecting steady demand for AP's more unconventional material executions.