Watch Paparazzi

Boxer Anthony Joshua spotted wearing Audemars Piguet

Anthony Joshua, the British heavyweight boxing champion who has long demonstrated a genuine appetite for haute horlogerie rather than mere celebrity watch collecting, was recently spotted wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Chronograph Self-Winding Openwork, reference 26587TI — one of the most mechanically complex and visually arresting pieces in the Le Brassus manufacture's current lineup.

The ref. 26587TI sits at the apex of the Royal Oak Concept family, a sub-collection Audemars Piguet introduced in 2004 as a laboratory for pushing complication engineering and avant-garde design beyond what the main Royal Oak line accommodates. The 44mm case is crafted entirely in grade 5 titanium, delivering a surprisingly wearable weight despite its architectural scale. At its heart beats Calibre 2954, a self-winding movement featuring a column-wheel flyback chronograph mechanism integrated with a flying tourbillon positioned at 6 o'clock. The skeletonised dial — or more precisely, the deliberate absence of one — exposes the entire movement architecture through sapphire crystal front and back, with the iconic Royal Oak octagonal bezel and integrated bracelet providing the only structural continuity with the original 1972 design.

From a collector standpoint, the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Chronograph represents a meaningful proposition. Titanium Concept references occupy a specific position: less stratospherically priced than the gem-set or carbon fibre variants, yet technically equivalent and arguably more wearable for daily use. Production numbers are extremely limited, and secondary market availability is correspondingly scarce. The combination of a certified tourbillon and a flyback chronograph in a single self-winding movement remains a genuine engineering achievement, not a marketing exercise.

Joshua has built one of the more credible watch collections in professional sport, with previous sightings including Royal Oaks and Richard Mille pieces. His choice of the 26587TI signals an understanding of what the Concept line represents within AP's hierarchy — this is not an entry-level flex but a considered acquisition at the technical summit of the catalogue.

With a UK list price of approximately £330,000, the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Chronograph ref. 26587TI commands a substantial premium on the grey market, where titanium Concept references have historically traded at or above retail given their scarcity. Prospective buyers should expect waitlists and AP client relationship requirements before a boutique allocation becomes realistic.