Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Yohan Cabaye spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Yohan Cabaye, the technically gifted French midfielder best known for his time at Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, was photographed wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph in 18k rose gold, reference 25940OK — one of the most enduring configurations in the Offshore catalogue and a perennial favourite on the wrists of professional footballers worldwide.

The 25940OK is built around a 42mm case in 18k pink gold, paired with a matching pink gold bracelet and protected by a sapphire crystal. The dial, typically rendered in a warm brown or slate tone with contrasting sub-registers, carries the signature Royal Oak Offshore tapisserie texture — the so-called "Méga Tapisserie" pattern introduced with the Offshore line in 1993. Water resistance is rated to 100 metres, and the case thickness sits at roughly 14.7mm, giving the watch its characteristic solidity on the wrist.

Power comes from the AP calibre 3126/3840, an automatic column-wheel chronograph movement beating at 21,600 vph with a 60-hour power reserve. The movement pairs the 3120 base calibre with the 2385 chronograph module, offering a proven and serviceably robust architecture rather than an integrated mono-bloc layout — a distinction collectors note, though it does nothing to diminish the watch's desirability in the secondary market.

Within AP's Royal Oak Offshore family, rose gold references occupy a particular tier: more opulent than steel, more wearable day-to-day than white gold or full gem-set variants. The 25940OK has been produced across several dial configurations and limited series, and its consistent demand in the secondary market reflects its crossover appeal between serious collectors and lifestyle buyers. Football culture, particularly in the Premier League era, elevated the Royal Oak Offshore to near-uniform status among top-flight players.

Cabaye, who wore the armband of a technically disciplined, high-earning European professional throughout his career, is a fitting custodian of the 25940OK. At a UK retail price of approximately £25,000 — translating to roughly $31,500 USD at period rates — the rose gold Offshore sits at a meaningful price point, and grey market values have historically tracked close to or above retail for well-preserved examples in precious metal.