The iconic and legendary Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad ref. 25940 needs very little introduction and is for sure one of those watches that is worth explaining in-depth, especially since it marks the first use of rubber as a main component in the watch industry. The AP Rubberclad is a watch that we've seen on the wrists of dozen of celebrities and AP lovers and a watch that is living testament of the continued innovation that AP has brought to the watch industry since the launch of the Royal Oak in 1972. A few months ago, Audemars Piguet quietly reintroduced the iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad under reference 26238OK.OO.A002CA.01. This fourth and latest generation of one of the most iconic Offshores, still sports a 42 mm case with a rubberclad bezel, but is now powered by the new in-house AP calibre 4404.
The History OF THE RUBBERCLAD
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad reference 25940 was launched in 2002 as the first watch to ever utilize rubber as one of its main components and the second luxury timepiece to be fitted with a rubber strap after the MDM Genève Hublot.
While many think that the octagonal bezel on this particular reference is just a piece of natural rubber, the reality is that the rubber is simply a clad or coating that wraps around the stainless steel or 18K rose gold bezel of the watch.
Just like in 1972 when Audemars Piguet surprised everyone with a stainless steel luxury sports watch priced at the price of gold, the same happened in 2002 when they dared to cover a gold bezel with rubber with the release of the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad. Below, we see the third generation of ref. 25940OK in 18K pink gold and the old school first generation ref. 25940SK in stainless steel with silvered dial.
While using rubber in the watch industry was quite groundbreaking back in 2002; today, is no longer the case, as this is a material that is now heavily used by many watch brands when it comes to their crowns, straps and many other exterior components. However, for a company like Audemars Piguet, rubber-clad bezels still remain very special. Just to put things in perspective, only eight out of a total of 118 Royal Oak Offshore references are equipped with rubber-clad bezels like that on reference 25940 and only one Royal Oak reference.
After the success of the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad in 2002, Audemars Piguet released nine very special limited edition watches within the Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore collections that also bear a rubber-clad bezel. These limited edition watches are the following:
2005 - Royal Oak Offshore Rubens Barrichello 1 ref. 26071IK.OO.D002CA.01
A 150-piece limited edition in titanium with a rubber-clad bezel and 5 additional pieces with a different dial.
2006 - Royal Oak Offshore Orchard Road ref. 26082TK.OO.D002CA.01
A 100-piece limited edition for the Audemars Piguet Boutique Singapore in tantalum with rubber-clad bezel. The dial features a red 8 as the address for the AP Boutique in Singapore is Orchard Road No. 8.
2006 - Royal Oak Offshore 'Campioni del Mondo 2006' ref. 26169.OK.O.D002.CA.01
A 24-piece limited edition in 18K pink gold and rubber-clad bezel, identical to reference 25940OK but bearing a special engraving on the case back. Watch was presented as a gift to the Italian National Soccer Team that won the World Cup in 2006.
2008 - Royal Oak Offshore Perpetual Calendar Chronograph for Italian authorized dealer 'Restivo' ref. 26262OK.00.1150CA.01
A 25-piece limited edition in 18K pink gold and rubber-clad bezel, with a very similar look to that of the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad ref. 25940OK. Restivo is the top jeweler in Corso, Sicily.
2009 - Royal Oak Offshore 'Tour Auto 2009' Limited Edition ref. 26278IK.GG.D002CA.01
A 100-piece limited edition in titanium with rubber-clad bezel with white dial, red subdials and red pushers.
Photo: WatchUWant
2009 - Royal Oak Offshore 'National Classic Tour 2009' Limited Edition ref. 26279IK.GG.D002CA.01
A 40-piece limited edition in titanium with rubber-clad bezel.
2009 - Royal Oak Offshore 'Gstaad Classic' Limited Edition ref. 26296IK.GG.D003CU.01
A 51-piece limited edition in titanium with rubber-clad bezel and one pusher in red.
2010 - Royal Oak Offshore 57th Street ref. 26298SK.OO.D101CR.01
A 250-piece limited edition in stainless steel with a rubber-clad bezel and exclusively available at the AP Boutique in NYC.
2012 - Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph ref. 2026377SK.OO.D002CA.01
A stainless steel and rubber-clad bezel Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph.
The FOUR Different Generations of the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad
As far as we are concerned, there are now four generations of the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad; however, in terms of appearance —at least from the front—, there are only three different generations because of a subtle difference in production of the last run up until 2013.
The first two generations bear reference 25940. The first generation —typically referred to as the 'original old school' Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad— was produced between 2002 and 2012, the second generation —referred to as the 'last one'— was produced from 2012 through the end of 2013 and for a few months an almost ‘unknown’ Rubberclad reference 26178OK was produced before discontinuing the model that year.
Now, the new Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad reference 26238OK released in 2022 would be the fourth generation.
First Generation of the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad ref. 25940
The first generation is more simple looking, doesn't have any surrounds or borders on the chrono registers or numerals and is equipped with a white calendar disc. For this first generation, the references are the following: stainless steel black dial ref. 25940SK.OO.D002CA.01, stainless steel silvered dial ref. 25940SK.OO.D002CA.02 and 18K rose gold grey dial ref. 25940OK.OO.D002CA.01. The production timeline falls within the 'F-series' to end of 'G-series'.
Second Generation of the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad ref. 25940
The second generation of the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad was released by Audemars Piguet in 2012 with production halting around the end of 2013. With the release of this second generation, AP marked the official discontinuation of the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad with silvered dial.
The second generation of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad features the following nuances when compared to its predecessor: applied AP logo in white/pink gold, white/pink gold surrounds on the chrono registers —white gold for stainless steel and pink gold for the 18K pink gold reference—, white/pink gold raised borders on the Arabic numerals, a darker shade of grey with an anthracite dial on the 18K pink gold model and everyone's favorite addition, a coveted black calendar disc.
The second generation of the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad ref. 25940 falls within the 'H-serial' production series and the references are the following: 25940SK.OO.D002CA.03 for the stainless steel model with black dial and 25940OK.OO.D002CA.02 for the 18K rose gold reference.
Photo: DavidSW
Third Generation of the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad
Additionally, what very few people know, is that there is a vaguely known ‘third generation’ —but only for the 18K pink gold model— that marked the official discontinuation of this iconic watch in 2013. This third generation only available through the Audemars Piguet boutique network and with probably no more than a hundred pieces ever produced —late H-serials and very early I-serials—, was equipped with calibre 3126/3840 instead of the calibre 2326/2840 —powering all previous Rubberclads—, was given a new reference number and fitted with a completely different case back.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad in 18K pink gold ref. 26178OK.OO.D002CA.01 officially replaced reference 25940OK.OO.D002CA.02 and marked the disappearance of the stainless steel model with black dial ref. 25940SK.OO.D002CA.03. Reference 26178OK was the last production run for the Rubberclad until the reintroduction of the new Rubberclad this year 2022.
While the third generation 18K pink gold Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad looks almost identical —at least from the dial side— to the second generation ref. 25940OK; there are some slight nuances upon closer examination.
1. Reference 26178OK.OO.D002CA.01 has a slightly lighter shade of color and a slightly smaller and different font on the calendar disc when compared to reference 25940OK.OO.D002CA.02. Please see the pictures below with the first picture being of ref. 25940OK and the second picture being ref. 26178OK.
Photo: DavidSW
2. The construction of the case back on ref. 26178OK is like that on the case back of the Royal Oak Offshore Diver but in 18K pink gold. Please see pictures below with the first picture being of the ref. 25940OK and the second picture being ref. 26178OK.
Photo: DavidSW
FOURTH AND LATEST Generation of the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad
Quietly released earlier this year 2022 —for its 20th anniversary—, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad appears in a fourth and latest generation still sporting a 42 mm case —opposed to the rest of the newly released Royal Oak Offshores with a 43 mm case— but powered by the new in-house AP calibre 4404. This new automatic movement that powers the latest generation of Royal Oak Offshores is an in-house flyback chronograph movement composed of 433 parts and 40 jewels and which provides a power reserve of 70 hours when fully wound. The latest reference of the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad is reference 26238OK.OO.A002CA.01.
This fourth and latest Rubberclad is only available in 18K rose gold and still fitted with a rubber clad bezel like all its counterparts. With the new in-house calibre powering this watch, the 12-hour register for the chrono has been moved to 12 o’clock, the running seconds to 6 o’clock and the 30-minute register remains at 9 o’clock.
Additionally, the new Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad in 18K rose gold benefits from the interchangeable strap system released by AP on the new generation of Royal Oak Offshores.
Removing the Rubber from the Bezel of the Rubberclad
A question that comes up very frequently across different watch fora and around circles of watch collectors throughout the world is if the rubber from the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad can be removed?
Well, the answer is yes. Below, please see a couple of pictures of two 'Naked Rubberclads'. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad in 18K rose gold ref. 25940OK.OO.D002CA.01 belonging to a close friend of ours, was stripped from its rubber coating to reveal the beauty of its 18K pink gold bezel. While the first successful attempt of stripping a Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad bezel from its rubber layer was made by watch collector and watch dealer Giulio Bonaccio based out of New York several years ago, only a handful of collectors after him had succeeded.
For those of you already tempted, please know that removing the rubber from the bezel is not an easy feat and one that if done incorrectly can leave the watch completely damaged and in need of a new bezel —stainless steel or 18K pink gold included.
First, the watch needs to be dismantled to remove the bezel from the case. Then, the rubber needs to be torched off —burnt— from the bezel. After removing the rubber, you will then notice that the hexagonal screws will now protrude above the bezel since they were originally flushed against the rubber coating. To correct this situation, a very skillful watchmaker would need to slightly file the bottom of those hex screws so that they can now sit as flushed as possible with the bezel. However, the best advice we can give you, is to leave your Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad untouched and maintain the integrity of its iconic design as is. Now, if you really want to give it a try, then be ready to pony up some extra cash in case something goes wrong.
In Summary
For many of us, this is one of the most beautiful Royal Oak Offshores out there and without a doubt, a true icon when it comes to Audemars Piguet timepieces. In all, the Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad is a watch that wowed everyone back in 2002 and one that continues to wow collectors after 20 years since its launch, hence, Audemars Piguet decided to bring it back quietly.
The picture below shows the bezel on my Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad ref. 25940OK still looking quite matte after almost three years of ownership from new. Worst case scenario if the bezel gets nicked, chipped or too shiny, the Audemars Piguet Service Center will be able to replace the rubber coating on the bezel for a small fee in the range of $1,800-3,800 USD depending on the metal.
Long live the legendary Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad.
Sticker Price for New 18K Rose Gold Rubberclad ref. 26238OK $54,500 USD. For more info on Audemars Piguet click here.
