Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Sami Nasri spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Sami Nasri, the technically gifted Manchester City and France international midfielder, was caught on camera wearing what is unmistakably an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Chronograph — one of the most architecturally aggressive pieces in AP's modern catalogue. The sighting appears to be a casual, off-duty moment, yet the wrist presence of the Concept series is anything but understated.

The Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Chronograph reference 26221FT.OO.D002CA.01 was introduced as part of AP's experimental Concept sub-family, which debuted in 2002 as a platform deliberately freed from the design constraints of the standard Royal Oak. The case measures 44mm and is constructed from forged carbon — a material chosen for its extreme lightness and tensile strength, paired here with a deep matte-black treatment. The bezel retains the iconic eight-bolt hexagonal architecture but is rendered in the same dark carbon composite. A black crocodile strap with a carbon-effect AP folding clasp completes the all-black ensemble visible on Nasri's wrist.

The movement is Calibre 2884, a manual-winding manufacture calibre featuring a flying tourbillon at approximately 9 o'clock and a column-wheel-controlled flyback chronograph. The skeletonised architecture exposes the twin mainspring barrels, the tourbillon cage, and the chronograph mechanism in full — a deliberately technical aesthetic that reads more like an aerospace component than a dress watch. Power reserve stands at approximately 10 days.

From a collector standpoint, the Royal Oak Concept Carbon occupies a distinct niche: it is a genuine high-complication piece wrapped in avant-garde industrial design. It attracts a different buyer than the classic 15202 or 15400 — one drawn to engineering theatre as much as horological tradition. Production numbers are extremely limited, and the reference rarely appears at auction in pristine condition.

Nasri spent his peak years at Arsenal and Manchester City, winning back-to-back Premier League titles with City in 2012 and 2014. His choice of the AP Concept Carbon — over the more ubiquitous Royal Oak stainless steel references favoured by teammates — signals a collector's sensibility rather than simple brand allegiance. At a UK RRP in the region of £200,000, this is a watch purchased with intent.