Presenting the Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph in three versions featuring the black ceramic case
In the 1970s, Swiss watchmakers suffered a fall in interest and sales due to the arrival of quartz watches from Japan. Audemars Piguet was no exception. But instead of giving up, Audemars Piguet made a bold move and launched the Royal Oak in 1972. The daring decision paid off — the Royal Oak became the very first luxury steel sports watch that was designed by the legendary watch designer Gérald Genta. Next year, this iconic timepiece will be celebrating its 50th birthday, and we cannot wait to see what the anniversary pieces will look like. One design style we know will stay for sure is the very recognisable octagonal bezel with its eight hexagonal screws that is the trademark of the Royal Oak collection.
To understand Audemars Piguet is to know its history as one of the oldest fine watchmaking manufacturers still in the hands of its founding families (Audemars and Piguet). Based in Le Brassus since 1875, the company has nurtured generations of talented craftspeople who have continuously developed new skills and techniques, broadening their savoir-faire to set rule-breaking trends. In the Vallée de Joux, at the heart of the Swiss Jura, Audemars Piguet has created numerous masterpieces, a testament to the Manufacture’s ancestral craftsmanship and forward-thinking spirit.
It is the skills of the dedicated watchmakers, along with Audemars Piguet attitude of always looking ahead, that successfully launched the Royal Oak Offshore collection last year. Watch fans have a choice of smoked blue, green or grey dials, each incorporating the Manufacture’s “Mega Tapisserie” pattern and new Arabic numerals which supplant the customary applied hour-markers.
Both the blue and green dial options feature a 44 mm ceramic case with matching ceramic bezel, pushpieces and screw-locked crown. The pushpiece guards are executed in titanium.
The third version features a smoked grey dial combined with an 18-carat pink gold bezel and pushpiece guards. The case, pushpieces and screw-locked crown are made of black ceramic.
Housed within each model’s contemporary case is the Manufacture Calibre 3126/3840, harnessing traditional craftsmanship and watchmaking expertise. This self-winding movement consists of 365 components and will run autonomously for at least 50 hours.
The new Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph is presented on a colour-coordinated textured rubber strap, ideally suited to an active lifestyle.
Here’s a detailed look at each:
Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph // 44 mm
Functions: Chronograph, hours, minutes, small seconds and date
Case: Black ceramic case, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, blue ceramic bezel, pushpieces and screw- locked crown, titanium pushpiece guards, water-resistant to 100 m
Dial: Smoked blue dial with “Mega Tapisserie” pattern, rhodium-toned counters, black inner bezel, white gold Arabic numerals and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating
Strap: Blue textured rubber strap, titanium pin buckle
Movement specs: Self-winding Manufacture Calibre 3126/3840
Total diameter: 29.92 mm (131⁄4 lignes) Total thickness: 7.16 mm
Number of jewels: 59
Number of parts: 365
Minimum guaranteed power reserve: 50 hours
Frequency of balance wheel: 3Hz (21,600 vph)
Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph // 44 mm
Functions: Chronograph, hours, minutes, small seconds and date
Case: Black ceramic case, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, green ceramic bezel, pushpieces and screw- locked crown, titanium pushpiece guards, water-resistant to 100 m
Dial: Smoked green dial with “Mega Tapisserie” pattern, rhodium-toned counters, black inner bezel, pink gold Arabic numerals and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating
Strap: Green textured rubber strap, titanium pin buckle
Movement specs: Self-winding Manufacture Calibre 3126/3840
Total diameter: 29.92 mm (131⁄4 lignes) Total thickness: 7.16 mm
Number of jewels: 59
Number of parts: 365
Minimum guaranteed power reserve: 50 hours
Frequency of balance wheel: 3Hz (21,600 vph)
Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph // 44 mm
Functions: Chronograph, hours, minutes, small seconds and date
Case: Black ceramic case, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, 18-carat pink gold bezel and pushpiece guards, black ceramic pushpieces and screw-locked crown, water-resistant to 100 m
Dial: Smoked grey with “Mega Tapisserie” pattern, rhodium-toned counters, silver-toned inner bezel, pink gold Arabic numerals and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating
Strap: Grey textured rubber strap, 18-carat pink gold pin buckle
Movement specs: Self-winding Manufacture Calibre 3126/3840
Total diameter: 29.92 mm (131⁄4 lignes) Total thickness: 7.16 mm
Number of jewels: 59
Number of parts: 365
Minimum guaranteed power reserve: 50 hours
Frequency of balance wheel: 3Hz (21,600 vph)
