Cricketer Kevin Pietersen spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Kevin Pietersen, England's most explosive Test batsman of his generation, was photographed at an evening event signing a champagne bottle with a very deliberate piece of horological hardware on his wrist: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix in forged carbon, limited to 1,750 examples worldwide. The relaxed, celebratory setting made the watch all the more visible, its bold red-and-yellow dial catching light against Pietersen's dark shirt.

The Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix — reference 26290IO.OO.A001VE.01 — debuted as part of AP's ongoing motorsport-inspired Offshore lineage. Its 44mm case is constructed from forged carbon fibre, a composite material produced under extreme heat and pressure, resulting in a surface with a distinctive marbled grain pattern unique to every individual case. The bezel screws and crown guards are rendered in brushed titanium, providing tonal contrast without adding significant weight. The dial itself is unmistakably motorsport: a red centre zone with yellow subsidiary registers sits beneath a cream tachymetre chapter ring — a direct visual nod to Formula 1 timing tradition.

Powering the watch is the in-house calibre 3126/3840, a column-wheel chronograph movement with a 21,600 vph beat rate, 40-jewel construction, and a 50-hour power reserve. The movement is visible through the sapphire caseback and finished to AP's characteristically high standard with perlage, côtes de Genève, and bevelled bridges.

From a collector standpoint, the Grand Prix occupies a specific niche within the Offshore universe. It appeals to buyers who want the full Offshore experience — oversized case, sporting pedigree, dramatic dial — but with materials technology that justifies a premium over standard steel references. The forged carbon construction keeps the watch remarkably light on the wrist despite its 44mm footprint, a practical virtue that more traditional luxury materials cannot match.

Pietersen has long cultivated a reputation as one of cricket's more style-conscious personalities, and his choice of the Grand Prix aligns with his known taste for bold, high-specification objects. With an original UK list price of approximately £32,950, and grey-market values having tracked upward since discontinuation, this remains one of the more desirable mid-2010s Offshore references for serious collectors.