Watch Paparazzi

Tennis player Stanislas Wawrinka spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Stanislas Wawrinka has long been known in collector circles as one of professional tennis's most serious watch enthusiasts, and his latest sighting confirms he is not chasing easy trophies on the wrist either. The Swiss champion was photographed wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in black ceramic, reference 26579CE — one of the most technically demanding pieces in the current Royal Oak catalogue.

The 26579CE measures 41mm and is constructed entirely from black ceramic, a material that demands an entirely different manufacturing logic compared to steel or precious metal. Where finishing a standard Royal Oak bracelet takes approximately six hours of hand-work, the ceramic equivalent requires around 30 hours. Ceramic cannot be re-machined once hardened, meaning every alternating brushed and polished surface on the iconic Gérald Genta-designed case and integrated bracelet must be executed to final tolerance before the sintering process. The dial presents a slate-toned calendar layout with a perpetual calendar complication — displaying date, day, month, and leap year — driven by Calibre 5134, a self-winding movement with a 40-hour power reserve that requires no manual correction until the year 2100.

From a collector standpoint, the 26579CE occupies a specific and rarefied position. Unlike a limited edition, it sits in the permanent collection, yet true annual production numbers remain extremely low — a direct consequence of the ceramic case and bracelet's labour intensity. The combination of a grand complication with ceramic construction is exceptionally rare industry-wide, and Audemars Piguet remains one of very few manufactures capable of executing it at this level of finish.

Wawrinka's relationship with Audemars Piguet has been well documented; the brand maintains deep roots in Swiss culture and has historically aligned with Swiss sporting excellence. Wawrinka, who won Roland Garros, the Australian Open, and the US Open, gravitates toward watches that carry technical substance rather than decorative statements — the 26579CE fits that profile precisely.

At retail, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar black ceramic 26579CE is listed at approximately $131,000 USD. On the secondary market, demand for ceramic Royal Oak complications remains firm, with grey-market values tracking close to or above retail given constrained supply.