Every time a discussion around the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Navy pops up in the online watch communities, we hear watchlifestylers commenting that this is an unpopular Offshore. Interestingly enough, while we were reviewing the Navy at the Langham Place Hotel in NYC, we surprisingly ran into another watchlifestyler wearing one.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Navy ref. 26170ST.OO.D305CR.01 was launched as a special edition model within the Royal Oak Offshore Themes line many years ago. The watch we are reviewing here, belongs to Fer, a close friend from Mexico who is crazy about the color blue. The second Navy belongs to a friend from London. Guys, thanks for sharing such a wonderful weekend with us.  

Based on what we've experienced in the online watch collecting communities, the Royal Oak Offshore Navy has always been a model that many refer to as the least popular Offshore and one that you rarely run into in the wild. The Navy, as it's name describes it, comes with the most beautiful white dial with navy blue chrono registers and a matching navy blue crocodile hornback strap with white stitching. Contrary to what most pictures depict —including ours—‚ the Arabic numerals and the hour/minute/seconds hands are also navy blue and not black. The contrast between the blue chrono registers and the white méga tapisserie is just mesmerizing. The white flange also creates a very well balanced look and perfectly clean lines.

The biggest difference between the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Navy and older Royal Oak Offshores —including some of the models in the Themes lineup— is that the Navy is fitted with the newer Audemars Piguet Chronograph calibre 3126/3840 —with 59 jewels, 365 parts and an approximate power-reserve of 55 hours— instead of the AP caliber 2326/2840 fitted on older models.  

To round out the blue look of this watch, the 'Therban' pushers and crown are also navy blue. The strap, just like all other Offshore hornback straps, is very comfortable and one of the nicest finishing touches to this watch. The strap is fitted with a deployant buckle that is also very comfortable and easy to use. 

After doing this review and enjoying this watch for a whole afternoon, we can say that the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Navy has now become one of our favorite Offshores and another Royal Oak Offshore model that needs to be seen in person to be fully appreciated.

If you are at a crossroad and somewhat indecisive about getting one, we encourage you to see one in person and avoid making a decision based on what you read on the watch communities about the lack of popularity of this beautiful watch. As you can appreciate in the pictures, the Royal Oak Offshore Navy is a perfect match to seersucker pants in case you are thinking of wearing them on your next trip to the Hamptons. While the Royal Oak Offshore 'Montauk Highway' would be the natural watch of choice to that weekend in the Hamptons, we feel the Navy is even more suitable for a day at the beach.

Sticker Price $25,700USD. For more info click here.