This time we are talking about our newest favorite tourbillon in the market, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph ref. 26388PO.OO.D027CA.01 in 950 Platinum presented at the SIHH 2014. This is a grail for many watchlifestylers and one hell of a watch. This Offshore is not only one amazing horological complication, but perhaps one of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronographs with the most mesmerizing wrist presence.
This robust timepiece featuring a tourbillon, also features an integrated column wheel 30-minute chronograph —quite a complication. After a successful launch in 2011 featuring a case in 18K pink gold and a forged carbon bezel under ref. 26288OF.OO.D002CR.01 reviewed here, this year Audemars Piguet presents the platinum version of this watch fitted with a ceramic bezel instead of forged carbon. This fascinating complication measuring 44mm in diameter and 16.60mm in thickness no longer features the four carved out corners on the top of the case —near the lug areas— as its predecessor; however, it still maintains the carved out plots and a perfectly brushed finished case with exuberating 'chamfers' very typical of Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore timepieces. Fitted now with a black ceramic bezel that matches the pushers and the crown, this watch is as perfect as it gets. The watch features an anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal, an anti-reflective coated display case back and a tourbillon with an integrated column wheel chronograph.
The openworked dial on this watch is now blue instead of black, following the traditional Audemars Piguet strategy of fitting blue dials on platinum Royal Oak Offshore Limited Edition pieces. The dial features a 30-minute chrono-register in light and dark blue at 3, a tourbillon at 9 o'clock and two openings at 12 and 6 o'clock. The blue dial features contrasting white Arabic numerals, white gold hands with luminescent coating, a blue flange with tachymetric scale and white chrono hands to round up its perfectly balanced configuration.
The beating heart inside of this new model is the hand-wound Audemars Piguet calibre 2912 composed of 328 parts, 30 jewels and which provides a power reserve of 237 hours —almost ten full days— when fully wound. Although this watch comes with the same movement as its predecessor —you can see it here—, it appears like Audemars Piguet has added two more bridges to the movement slightly reducing the visibility of the calibre.
Another difference between the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph in Platinum and its predecessor, is that while the rose gold model features a black large square scale hand-stitched alligator strap, this new platinum version features a sporty blue rubber strap with folding clasp that looks just amazing. On the wrist the watch is as comfortable as its predecessor and slightly heavier due to the density of the 950 platinum case.
Sticker Price $313,900 USD. For more info on Audemars Piguet click here.
