Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Daniel Sturridge spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Daniel Sturridge, the England international and Liverpool FC forward known as much for his distinctive personal style as his clinical finishing, was recently spotted on the wrist with one of Audemars Piguet's most technically demanding references — the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in yellow gold, reference 25829OR.

The 25829OR is built around Audemars Piguet's calibre 2120/2800, an ultra-thin self-winding movement measuring just 4.26mm in height. That movement integrates a complete perpetual calendar — displaying date, day, month, leap year, and moon phase — all programmed to account for the irregular lengths of every month through the year 2100, after which a single one-day correction is required. The combination of Gerald Genta's original 1972 Royal Oak architecture with this level of calendar complication remains a benchmark achievement in the industry. The 18k yellow gold case and integrated bracelet, paired with the model's characteristic Grande Tapisserie dial, give the 25829OR an unmistakable presence.

Among collectors, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in precious metal occupies a respected tier. The reference 25829OR predates the current production references and carries the weight of AP's long perpetual calendar lineage — a line that traces back to 1955 with the calibre 2003. Finding examples in yellow gold in strong condition commands serious collector attention, and the reference appears regularly at the upper end of specialist auction estimates.

Sturridge has built a well-documented reputation as a genuine watch enthusiast within football circles, with a collection that reflects considered taste rather than impulse purchasing. The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar sits comfortably within that profile — this is not a watch bought for its logo, but for what it does and what it represents within Audemars Piguet's catalogue.

On the secondary market, yellow gold Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar references in the 25829 family trade at a significant premium over their original retail figures, driven by sustained demand for complications in AP's most iconic case. With a UK RRP in the region of £98,000 at time of listing, and grey market values tracking close to or above that figure depending on condition and service history, the 25829OR is unambiguously a serious horological investment as well as a statement piece.