In 2023, Audemars Piguet marked the thirtieth anniversary of the Royal Oak Offshore, a seminal fashionable luxurious sports activities watch that sought to reinvent the magic of the unique Audemars Piguet Royal Oak from 1972. About 20 years after the unique, when Audemars Piguet launched the Royal Oak Offshore in 1993, its mission was very completely different regardless that its intention was to once more develop a wristwatch platform that the model might construct upon for many years. Audemars Piguet labored with the designer Emmanuel Gueit for the Royal Oak Offshore, who reimagined the Royal Oak as a bulkier, sturdier, and extra visually masculine timepiece for intense life. Not too long ago, Audemars Piguet has once more put consideration on the Royal Oak Offshore with brisker in-house actions and an much more bold transfer upmarket. In the present day, I am going hands-on with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph 26420CE.OO.A043VE.01 in black and blue ceramic.
As of this writing, Audemars Piguet lists 13 completely different variations of the 43mm extensive Royal Oak Offshore chrono on its web site. Every model options the identical core design and motion however provides completely different colour schemes and materials combos. That is extra distinctive as a result of it mixes two ceramic colours together with a black ceramic case and blue ceramic chronograph pushers, crown, and bezel. Among the case {hardware} (similar to screws and strap finish hyperlinks) is in titanium. Different supplies at the moment used embody metal, titanium, and 18k gold, plus a variety of diamonds if you’d like them.
The colour scheme is moody however enticing and likewise stylish provided that watches just like the Rolex GMT-Grasp II “Batman” provide an analogous colour palette. The blue and black theme continues on the dial with a deep blue mega tapisserie dial texture in addition to the silver rings across the recessed black subdials. Dial legibility is excessive due to the big palms and easy-to-see hour markers. Audemars Piguet has completed a pleasant job of concurrently modernizing the Royal Oak Offshore dial and protecting it instrumental and opulent. A troublesome job, certainly.
In comparison with Royal Oak Offshore watches of the current previous, what finest distinguishes the brand new technology of Royal Oak Offshore 43mm extensive watches is the novel in-houseAudemars Piguet 4400 sequence computerized motion. Whereas Audemars Piguet has already launched fashionable mechanical actions in most of its core assortment fashions, many timepiece fans nonetheless recall when the in any other case pretty Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore fashions continued to make use of extra legacy, much less prestigious actions (even when they have been completed fantastically). Whenever you flip the watch over, you’ll be able to admire the in-house caliber 4401 computerized motion. With very spectacular ornament and magnificence, the motion operates at 4Hz with about 70 hours of energy reserve and is comprised of 381 components. The motion options the time with subsidiary seconds, the date, and a flyback 12-hour chronograph.
One of many extra fascinating design selections on the dial is the entire elimination of the complete “Audemars Piguet” model identify. Solely the model’s “AP” letters brand resides on the dial. This was an fascinating transfer because it reveals an Audemars Piguet model that was (and sure nonetheless is) on the absolute peak of its confidence, believing that when somebody sees this watch, there is no such thing as a different model that individual might conceivably think about the product to have originated from. In a variety of methods that’s true, regardless that Audemars Piguet sadly can’t at the moment stop different manufacturers from utilizing comparable octagonal dials. Its hope however, is that nothing else in the marketplace even seems to be remotely like a Royal Oak Offshore. In different methods (similar to pricing), Audemars Piguet is more and more attempting to section its watches in a category exterior its regular timepiece product competitors.
The general wrist consolation of the 43mm Royal Oak Offshore Selfwind Chronograph is superb. It’s a large-wearing watch due to its broad lugs, thickness, and total wrist presence, however it doesn’t really feel bigger than it must be and is fitted to “huge watch” tastes. The case, produced from largely ceramic, is very scratch-resistant and can also be water resistant to 100 meters. In comparison with Royal Oak Offshores of previous, this new technology Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph has a dial proportionally bigger to the case and bezel, as in comparison with different, extra legacy-styled Royal Oak Offshores. This truth adjustments the wrist presence of the timepiece and is a pleasant complement to the extra conventional Royal Oak Offshore dial and case-wearing expertise.
Given the excessive worth level of the watch total, Audemars Piguet paid shut consideration to the small print, ensuring that every little thing from the fabric floor textures to the strap high quality feels top-notch. To that finish, you’ll be able to see very daring brushed traces within the ceramic and steel surfaces, in addition to crisp colours and dial appliqués. Having mentioned that, for those who examine the Royal Oak Offshore to a number of the competitors in the marketplace, the worth delta with another watches will likely be difficult to elucidate. In the present day, Audemars Piguet sees itself as greater than only a conventional watchmaker, but additionally a way of life and quasi-jewelry model. Meaning its merchandise are, by design, supposed to be each unique and out of attain.
What Audemars Piguet has maintained effectively with this and different Royal Oak watches is the “cool” issue. Sporting an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore remains to be very cool from a style perspective, and the watch itself remains to be very cool from a timepiece product fanatic’s perspective. Worth for the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph 26420CE.OO.A043VE.01 in blue and black ceramic is $58,400 USD. Be taught extra on the Audemars Piguet web site right here.
