It was in 1993 that Audemars Piguet launched the Royal Oak Offshore. A natural evolution of the Royal Oak launched in 1972, the supersized 'Offshore' was large, bold, rugged and highly functional. Genta’s original Royal Oak was the definitive source of reference and inspiration for the Royal Oak Offshore designed by a talented, young, second generation designer working for Audemars Piguet named Emmanuel Gueit. The new design diverged from the original in several significant ways that came to be the defining characteristics of the Royal Oak Offshore. The most pronounced shift was the dramatic case size of 42 mm. While this is standard fare in 2014, it was a shock when introduced in 1993 at Baselworld. By this time, the watch had already been nicknamed, ‘The Beast’ due to its staggering proportions.
Posts filed under Audemars Piguet
Experience: The Audemars Piguet Museum. An Unforgettable Afternoon in Le Brassus.
A while back, while we were in Switzerland, we had the opportunity to visit the Audemars Piguet Museum in Le Brassus, a lifetime experience for any Audemars Piguet watchlifestyler.
Our appointment at the museum was scheduled for 1:30pm on a gloomy Friday. Considering that we were staying in Zürich and the drive to Le Brassus is almost three hours long, we knew we had to be on the road by 10 o'clock in order to be there on time. Here's a picture while we were getting ready to go pick up our car, right before breakfast time. This classic Hermès belt has been worn along with several Audemars Piguet Jumbos in the collection since the 90s.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph ref. 26288. One of Our Favorite Tourbillons in The Market.
This time we are talking about one of our favorite tourbillons in the market, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph ref. 26288OF.OO.D002CR.01. 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. This watch is fitted with an 18K pink gold case measuring 44 mm in diameter and 16.60 mm in thickness, an anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal, an anti-reflective coated display case back, a forged carbon bezel, a black ceramic screw-down crown and black ceramic chrono pushers.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15400. The Largest Royal Oak Ever Made.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15400 is the largest Royal Oak ever made with an over-sized case with a diameter of 41 mm. This fantastic reference —also available in rose gold— is a clear result of the continuous evolution of the Royal Oak and the manufacture's constant forward thinking.
Since its launch in 1972, the Royal Oak has gone through several design modifications including at least 12 references in 39mm, 12 in 36mm, 15 in 33 mm and even a rectangular Royal Oak ref. 6005. Today, the Royal Oak continues to embrace its core values just like it did 40 years ago regardless of its size. For some Royal Oak purists, bigger means betraying the original Jumbo. We have to admit that it took us a good year and months to come around; however, we can say with confidence that ref. 15400 is just as good.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin ref. 15202ST. Almost Like the Original Jumbo From 1972.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin ref. 15202ST.OO.1240ST.01 is as close as you would get nowadays to the feeling of owning the iconic Royal Oak Jumbo ref. 5402ST from 1972. While this redesigned Jumbo maintains the sleek lines of the other Jumbos and most of the core elements present in the ref. 5402, there are subtle differences that are worth discussing.
The new Jumbo, referred to as Extra-Thin by Audemars Piguet, is fitted with a sapphire crystal display case back just like the previous Jumbo ref. 15202. The original Jumbo 5402 from 1972 featured a unique monoblock case design, making it even thinner and more sleek.
Macros: Audemars Piguet Calibre 3120. One of the Greatest Movements Ever Made.
The Audemars Piguet calibre 3120 is now considered one of the greatest automatic movements ever made. Fitted on several models across the Royal Oak collection— including the discontinued ref. 15300, the recently launched ref. 15400 and the Royal Oak Offshore Diver amongst others—, calibre 3120 is a work of art and truly one of the nicest movements you can find out there. Not to mention that is also extremely accurate.
This beautiful and precise calibre, is fully decorated with Côtes de Genève on all bridges and comes with a stunning bi-directional 22k gold rotor. The rotor features the coats of arms for the Audemars and Piguet families, all done with immaculate attention to detail.
Experience: Davidoff Cigar Shop at the Paradeplatz in Zürich. A Must for Cigar Aficionados.
Nestled in between Blue Lemon and the Galerie Gmurzynska at Paradeplatz 3 —just across from the Credit Suisse headquarters in Zürich— lies one of Zürich's oldest cigar shops now displaying a huge Davidoff sign. This cozy and intimate cigar shop, is located just a few steps away from the Blancpain boutique and Türler featured in our Zürich Watch Shopping Guide here. The shop opened its doors in the 1800s and offers a wide selection of Davidoff cigars, Habanos, loose tobacco, accessories and some very fine liquors. To get to this shop, just get on the VBZ —Zürich Tram System— from the Bahnhof SBB towards the Paradeplatz and in three minutes you'll be there. Now, if you prefer to walk, just follow the Bahnhofstrasse towards the lake but we aware of the fact that you might end up not getting to the cigar shop as you will be doing some serious watch shopping on your way there.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Michael Schumacher Limited Edition. As Amazing as the Driver Himself.
Today, we are bringing you this post from the archives to celebrate that Michael Schumacher is out of the coma following his skiing accident on December 29th, 2013. Coincidentally enough, this post was published for the first time almost a year ago. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Michael Schumacher Limited Edition is one of the most fascinating watches paying tribute to the second greatest Formula One driver that has ever lived. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 'Schumi' —as most people refer to it— is available in Titanium, 18K Rose Gold and Platinum. All three watches are fitted with a Cermet bezel that is just perfection. The 'Schumi' in Titanium ref. 26568IM.OO.A004CA.01 is limited to 1000 pieces, while the Rose Gold and Platinum are limited to 500 and 100 respectively.
Experience: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15400ST. 'Water Resistant' Means You Can Swim and Shower with it.
Countless times we have seen watch collectors post questions across the different watch forums regarding the water resistance of their watches and whether they can shower or swim with them. Some of the most common posts relate to questions like: Can I shower or swim with my Royal Oak? Can I shower with my Rolex Submariner?
'Water Resistance' and 'Waterproof' are two terms that are commonly interchangeably used by the different watch manufactures depending on the type of testing that the watch has undergone or at their discretion. In the context of the textile industry, these two terms mean two completely different things, where 'water resistant' refers to 'water repellant' more so than waterproofing.
News: Leo Messi Visits The Audemars Piguet Manufacture in Le Brassus. The King of Soccer Gets a Lesson in Watchmaking.
Four-time Golden Ball winner Leo Messi paid a visit to the Manufacture Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus. An ambassador of the Swiss brand since 2010, the Argentine born prodigy took the opportunity to enrich his knowledge of Haute Horlogerie.
Accompanied by François-Henry Bennahmias, CEO, Audemars Piguet, Leo Messi visited the workshops where his namesake limited-edition watch is made.
Experience: Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Quantieme Perpetuel Automatique Openworked. Beacuse This Manufacture is Way More than Only the Royal Oak.
Audemars Piguet is the only Swiss manufacture that is still in the hands of the descendants of their original founders. While Audemars Piguet is very well known for the Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore timepieces, the true essence of the manufacture comes to life with their exceptional more classic timepieces from the Jules Audemars, the Millenary, the Tradition and the Classique collections. Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet founded the company in 1875 that is still located in Le Brassus, right in the heart of the Vallée de Joux. Among their amazing creations, inventions and horological firsts comes the Jules Audemars Quantieme Perpetuel Automatique, the first automatic ultra-thin perpetual calendar wristwatch with central rotor ever created in 1978.
One thing we love about Audemars Piguet is how they draw upon its unique blend of tradition, experience and knowledge to push the boundaries of fine watchmaking to the maximum level through their Savoir-Faire creations. Openworking is one of those things that Audemars Piguet masters very well and several steps are involved in hand finishing every skeletonized mainplate, including the flanking, beveling, perlage and polishing. The purpose of openworking is to enhance transparency and aesthetic appeal by revealing the beauty of the movement without compromising its accuracy.
This fascinating Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Quantieme Perpetuel Automatique Openworked fitted with a yellow gold case measuring 36 mm in diameter and only 7 mm in thickness, is a living example of how to break the rules you must first master them. This perpetual calendar with moon phases is powered by the legendary Audemars Piguet calibre 2120/1 with 36 jewels, straight-line lever escapement and hand engraved skeletonized rotor in 21K gold. This complication is a real treat for the eyes and a joy to wear.
Now, enjoy the rest of these images we have prepared for you while you relax comfortably in your Eames Lounge chair while sipping your warm Nespresso.
Estimated Sticker Price $17,000-$20,000 depending on condition. For more info on Audemars Piguet click here.
News: Audemars Piguet Presents the QEII Cup 2014 Royal Oak Offshore Diver Limited Edition. Only 150 Pieces Available.
Audemars Piguet Presents the QEII Cup 2014 Royal Oak Offshore Diver Limited Edition ref. 15709TR.OO.A005CR.01, a perfect representation of sports performance in 'haute horlogerie'. This new limited edition Royal Oak Offshore Diver is the product of a collaboration with The Hong Kong Jockey Club for the 16th Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II —QEII— Cup in Hong Kong.
In a race that attracts participants from all over the world, up to a HK$14 million winning purse will be offered. To commemorate the 16th anniversary of the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup annual international race in Hong Kong, the brand will be launching a 150-piece Royal Oak Offshore limited edition timepiece. A masterpiece incorporating impeccable craftsmanship and contemporary design, it is the perfect timepiece to mark an important event on the social horse racing calendar, appealing to the sophisticated watch connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike. The unique combination of the 42mm tantalum case, the 18-carat pink gold bezel, slate grey dial and the “large square scale” grey crocodile leather strap create contrasting colors and accentuate the features of this timepiece. Engraved on the sapphire transparent case back is the legend “Audemars Piguet QEII Cup 2014 – Limited Edition” and the “Audemars Piguet QEII Cup” logo. Through caseback, one can easily admire the 22K oscillating weight and decorations of the 3120 Manufacture Calibre.
The highly anticipated 2014 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup will take place on April 27 at the Sha Tin Racecourse. The Selection Announcement will be held on April 9 to reveal the 14 contending horses that will be participating in this international race while on April 24, the Barrier Draw will determine the barrier number of each of the competing horses. On the following day, Audemars Piguet will be hosting the annual Gala Party with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, where the local celebrities, socialites, and representatives from the equestrian circle will gather to celebrate this highly anticipated annual event. The QEII Cup race was established in 1975 to commemorate the visit of the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of
Edinburgh, Prince Philip to Hong Kong. The race is traditionally run in the spring season and has become one of the most important social events in Hong Kong since then. Over the years, the QEII Cup has evolved into an internationally recognized race, with participants from both local and overseas. Audemars Piguet became the title sponsor of the QEII
Cup since 1999, which is now an International Group 1 race and stands prominent in the racing firmament, currently offering a purse of HK$14 million.
Sticker Price $30,500 USD. For more info Audemars Piguet click here.
Technical Specifications of the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup 2014 Royal Oak Offshore Diver Limited Edition ref. 15709TR.OO.A005CR.01
Dial: Slate grey dial with 'Méga Tapisserie', 18K pink gold applied markers, hour and seconds hand in 18K pink gold and black minute hand.
Flange: Uni-directional rotating slate grey flange with diving scale.
Calibre: Automatic Audemars Piguet 3120 with a diameter of 26.60 mm, thickness of 4.26 mm, 280 parts, 40 jewels and power reserve of 60 hours.
Case: Tantalum measuring 42 mm in diameter with 18K pink gold bezel and plots.
Case back: Engraved with the legend “Audemars Piguet QEII Cup 2014 – Limited Edition” and
“Audemars Piguet QEII Cup” logo.
Water Resistance: 300 meters.
Strap: Hand-stitched “large square scale” grey alligator strap with titanium pin buckle.
Rare Bird: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 'Pride of Mexico' Limited Edition. A Must Have for Mexican Watchlifestylers.
A few days ago, we heard through the grapevine that a close friend had somehow sourced a brand new in box Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 'Pride of Mexico' limited edition. Thereafter, we decided to pay him a visit and work on these images and review for those of you that still feel Mexican at heart. This very special watch was released in 2010 by Audemars Piguet in a limited edition of 200 pieces in titanium with stainless steel bezel ref. 26297IS.OO.D101CR.01 and in a 100 pieces in 18K rose gold ref. 26297OR.OO.D101CR.01. Soon after its release, the watch sold out. While many gray watch dealers claim to have these watches in stock, they don't and finding a brand new one, is as hard as finding a needle in a haystack.
The 'Pride of Mexico' was released as a celebratory piece to commemorate the Bicentennial of the Mexican Independence using the standard 42 mm Royal Oak Offshore case, a white silvery dial with some key color accents and equipped with a very elegant dark green —almost black looking— alligator hornback leather strap with light green contrast stitching.
Fitted with a 'méga tapisserie' white silvery dial with green Arabic numerals and a red chrono seconds hand, the watch has just the right amount of color to celebrate Mexico's Independence the right way without overdoing it. The three colors utilized in its dial are representative of the Mexican flag and are very well executed in this timepiece. The 'méga tapisserie' dial is quite nice and shimmery when exposed to fluorescent light sources and the numerals and hands feature luminescent material, a must have on a Royal Oak Offshore.
Flipping the watch over reveals a very nice surprise that is engraved on the case back. The engraving, an image of the 'Ángel of Independence' that is located on a roundabout on 'Paseo de la Reforma' —Mexico City's most important avenue. The 'Ángel of Independence' is a constant reminder of the War of Independence against Spain —which lasted eleven years and eleven days from September 16th, 1810 until September 27th, 1821— and is also one of the most beautiful and iconic landmarks in all Mexico City. The 'Angel of Independence' most commonly known as 'El Ángel' was built in 1910 to commemorate the centennial of the beginning of Mexico's War of Independence and years later it was turned into a mausoleum where the remains of the most important Independence war heroes are kept.
To round out this amazing limited edition watch, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 'Pride of Mexico' limited edition is presented in a special wooden box with the three colors of the Mexican flag and topped with a round plate that features the same engraving of the 'Ángel of Independence' that appears on the case back of the watch. The beating heart inside this watch is the Audemars Piguet automatic calibre 2326/2840 —second generation movement inside the Royal Oak Offshores but not the latest one calibre 3126/3840— which provides a power reserve of 38 hours when fully wound.
On the wrist, the watch wears true to its size but heavier than other titanium Offshores due to its stainless steel bezel. In reality is hard to tell the difference in weight between this watch and a regular stainless steel Offshore. If words like 'Bosques', 'Bandasha', 'Teca', 'La Anáhuac' or 'El Baby' are very meaningful to you and every time you hear them you feel transported to your 'wonder years' in Mexico City, then you know that sooner rather than later, this particular limited edition Audemars Piguet will become part of your collection. Let the hunt begin!
Sticker Price $29,000-34,000 USD. For more info on Audemars Piguet click here.
Watch Goodies: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Wall Clock. Unboxing an Iconic and Coveted Clock.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak wall clock is perhaps one of the most coveted items of watch swag but unfortunately for AP lovers this clocks are not for sale to the public but given by the brand to top clients and 'friends of the brand'. The AP Royal Oak wall clock just like the Royal Oak, has evolved in the last 15 years and the current generation of the clock is not only bigger but nicer. While the previous generation of Audemars Piguet wall clocks is still beautiful and as coveted as the new generation, the older clocks were bulkier and slightly smaller —13" in diameter compared to the 15" diameter of the new ones. While the hex bolts on the new AP clocks are recessed just like on the watches, the previous clocks had protruding bolts that made them look more like a ship porthole. Additionally, there is one other 13" AP wall clock with actual tapisserie and recessed bolts that was launched as a transitional clock right in between the 13" clock pictured below and the 15" on the first picture.
Another big difference between the newer clocks and the older ones, is that the new version comes with an actual raised 'tapisserie', while the older clocks featured a 'tapisserie' that was just printed on the dial. Something we do love about the previous generation of AP clocks is the double baton at 12 o'clock, the super bright luminescent material on the batons and hands and the Swiss quartz movement —ironically, the new clocks feature a German quartz movement.
The Audemars Piguet clocks are typically located in 86 Delta Air Lines Sky Club lounges throughout the United States and internationally, at NetJets locations in Woodbridge, NJ, Beverly Hills, CA and New York City, throughout 21 Four Seasons Hotels in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Latin America and aboard The World by Residensea.
Additionally, you will also find them at the Audemars Piguet boutiques, authorized dealers carrying the brand and at the prestigious Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey where Audemars Piguet is the Official Timekeeper.
As we mentioned earlier, these clocks are not for sale by Audemars Piguet but from time to time they will pop-up on Ebay or watch forum classifieds posted by private sellers or authorized dealers wanting to make a quick buck. This particular clock was purchased by a very close friend of ours and true watchlifestyler that waited over two weeks to meet with us before unboxing it, so that we could document it. What a great friend!
While we could've done the unboxing at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago —since they have a couple Audemars Piguet clocks there—, we decided to honor the German quartz movement in the clock with some beer 'steins' filled with the finest German beer at the Hofbräuhaus here in Chicago. Now, enjoy these images of the iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak wall clock. As expected, the finish on the clock is up to par with the finish on the Audemars Piguet timepieces.
Estimated Sticker Price $1,400-2,500 USD. For more info on Audemars Piguet click here.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 'Oceanografía' Limited Edition. One of the Most Beautiful Offshores Exclusively Made for a VIP Client.
Back in 2012, Audemars Piguet released the Royal Oak book commemorating the 40th anniversary of the birth of the Royal Oak. As soon as it came out, we had to have a copy of it. In the book, not only will you find very interesting historical information about the iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Royal Oak Offshore but also great images of vintage advertisements and even pictures of some of the 'friends of the brand', major AP collectors and even some of their brand ambassadors.
In the book, you'll find big names like Ticiane Pinheiro Justus —Brazilian TV Anchor, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Suhaim Al Thani from Qatar, Abdulmagied Ahmed Seddiqi — Chairman of renowned Middle Eastern jeweler Seddiqi & Sons, Claude Nobs —Founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival, Marcus Margulies —one of the biggest AP collectors and owner of MARCUS watches in London, Graeme McDowell, Juan Pablo Montoya, Leo Messi, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Schumacher and Gerald Genta amongst others. However, there's one picture in the book that caught our attention, the picture of someone named Amado Omar Yañez Osuna, CEO of Oceanografía, S.A de C.V., a Mexican company extremely involved with Pemex —Mexico's Petroleum company— and everything related to offshore oil drilling and offshore oil platforms construction. The watch on his wrist, a Royal Oak Offshore we had not seen until then and that was really beautiful.
In 2013, we were invited to a very exclusive event and one of the attendees was wearing the exact same watch that was featured in the Royal Oak book. Interestingly enough, the gentleman wearing the watch was also Mexican but not the one featured in the book. It is amazing how small the watch collecting world really is. As we started talking about the amazing 'never seen before' Offshore on his wrist, this watchlifestyler shared with us the story behind the watch and allowed us to take these pictures for our website.
According to this watchlifestyler, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore on his wrist was a very special edition that was custom made by Audemars Piguet and commissioned by Oceanografía, S.A. de C.V. to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the company. The Royal Oak Offshore 'Oceanografía' Limited Edition bears a beautiful 'mega tapisserie' blue dial with silver registers and yellow Arabic numerals, a yellow chrono-seconds hand, blue therban crown and pushers and a beautiful engraving on the case back with the number '40', the seahorse logo of Oceanografía, S.A. de C.V. and the years 1966-2006. To round out the beautiful color combo and design, the watch is fitted with a blue alligator large square scale strap with yellow contrast stitching and equipped with the usual AP deployant buckle. We were told the watch also came with a second blue strap in smooth calf leather and a stainless steel bracelet.
Frankly, this company could've not picked a better watch to commemorate such an important milestone when you're in the business of oil ships and 'offshore drilling'. The watch, a late F-serial, does not bear any information as to how many pieces were commissioned; however, if our memory serves us correctly, we were told that there were 50 watches ever made —including a solid 18K white gold piece— in order to be gifted to friends, family and business partners. We can only imagine how much Audemars Piguet would charge to do something like this. One thing we can assume is that it wasn't a cheap limited edition and likely no bulk discount was offered. Now, for those of you wondering what small luxuries Oceanografía, S.A. de C.V. was funding with their millions —currently under investigation as published by Bloomberg here—, you may now have a good answer.
On a positive note, we are not sure what you guys think of the color combination, but we think that If Audemars Piguet were to launch an Offshore with the exact same color combination right now, we are confident it would become a huge success.
Estimated Sticker Price $40,000 USD. For more info on Audemars Piguet click here.
Insider: Royal Oak Offshore Safari ref. 26170ST. Now a Discontinued Offshore, Long Live the Old Safari.
Last month at the SIHH 2014, Audemars Piguet presented the new generation of Royal Oak Offshores in 42 mm fitted with a display case back, ceramic crown and pushers, new dials, beefier crown guards and new straps. Based on the new line-up, we can infer that several references are now officially discontinued including the Royal Oak Offshore Rubber Clad. With the arrival of the new Safari and the new Navy, two iconic Royal Oak Offshores will be now long gone as we knew them up until now. Therefore, we decided to dedicate this post to one of the most iconic Royal Oak Offshores of all time, the Safari.
The Royal Oak Offshore Safari ref. 26170ST.OO.D091CR.01 was first introduced in 2005 —along with the Navy, the Black Themes and the Silver Themes strap models— as a leather strap Offshore option, under the ref. 26020ST. At that time, the Safari was the only Offshore model fitted with an alligator hornback strap. The Navy, the Silver Themes and the Black Themes were originally fitted with a smooth leather strap and not with a hornback.
From 1993 through early 2007, the beating heart inside all Offshores was the calibre 2226/2840; however, later in 2007, Audemars Piguet switched the old calibre to the new in-house calibre 3126/3840 —based off the Audemars Piguet in-house calibre 3120 with a Dubois Depraz chrono module on it— as the beating heart of all modern Royal Oak Offshore Chronographs with the exception of the Rubber Clad. The Rubber Clad, up until its last production date, was still fitted with the older calibre 2226/2840. At the time the calibre was switched, the reference for the Royal Oak Offshore Safari changed to 26170ST. Additionally, during the production of the G-serials, all Royal Oak Offshores were fitted with an anti-reflective coated loupe on the date aperture in order to improve its readability.
For many, the Safari will always remain as one of the most iconic Offshores ever created, while for others, it will remain as a somewhat bland and boring Offshore fitted with a pale cream colored dial. To us, the Safari will not only remain as an icon, but also as a perfectly balanced Royal Oak Offshore with the nicest cream colored dial with silver chrono registers and black Arabic numerals. Perhaps the only down side to this watch is the lack of luminescent material on the hands and numerals.
To really appreciate the beauty and elegance of a Royal Oak Offshore Safari ref. 26170ST.OO.D091CR.01, one needs to see the watch in person. Regardless of the lighting conditions, the beauty of the cream colored dial cannot be captured with a camera as it can only be fully appreciated with the naked eye. On the wrist, it is just as comfortable as any other Offshore on bracelet or strap. If you love brown straps, nothing compares to the beauty and unmistakeable look of the brown alligator hornback on a Safari. Some people dislike where the clasp is positioned against the wrist when the watch is worn, but we feel there's nothing wrong with it. If you have a 7.25" wrist, we recommend getting an extra long strap for the ultimate perfect fit as the clasp will be secured to the strap on its last perforation.
The Safari exudes class and elegance like no other stainless steel modern Offshore but comes in second place when compared to the original Royal Oak Offshore 25721ST.OO.1000ST.01 with blue dial reviewed here and that will always remain as the most beautiful Royal Oak Offshore ever created. For those of you that have always wanted a Safari but have always hesitated on getting one, this is the time to get it before is long gone forever. Something else that is worth mentioning about the AP Royal Oak Offshore Safari, is how versatile this watch can be as you can fit a Rubber Clad strap on it or even the Royal Oak Offshore stainless steel bracelet for a change. As you will see below, these two completely different looks are just breathtaking. In our opinion the Safari on Rubber Clad strap and the Safari on stainless steel bracelet are just fascinating and at times even better than the original look of the Safari on its hornback strap.
Sticker Price $25,700 USD. For more info on Audemars Piguet click here.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 44mm Anthracite Dial ref. 26402CE. Just Stunning in Every Aspect.
This new sophisticated chronograph with its incisive design features a wealth of opulent detailing. Presented at the SIHH 2014 and also in 2015 in Geneva, this new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore in 44 mm ref. 26402CE.OO.A002CA.02 features a full ceramic case and bezel paired with an Anthracite dial with “Méga Tapisserie”, anthracite counter at 12 o’clock, anthracite counters with grey outer zone at 6 and 9 o’clock and red chronograph hands. The look of this new dial is accentuated by the silver flange with tachymeter scale. The ceramic case is round out by its titanium crown guards, titanium plots and black rubber strap with titanium pin buckle. As it is the norm with Royal Oaks and Royal Oak Offshores, the finish on the case is superb and the traditional vertical brushed finish is prevalent on both the bezel and the case in a remarkable way.
This new anthracite dial is very unique in terms of color and depending on the angle at which the light hits it, it will vary from a deep grey, to a greyish blue and even to a deep midnight blue. The red accents along with the silvered outer zone on the chrono registers and the white and black markers make this dial a perfectly balanced one.
The beating heart inside this watch is the Audemars Piguet calibre 3126/3840 composed of 365 parts, 59 jewels and which provides a power reserve of 55 hours. As we have mentioned it before, this calibre is based off of the 3120 but with a Dubois-Depraz chrono module. The calibre is fully visible via the display case back on the watch.
On the wrist, the watch is just exceptional. Even though we consider ourselves Royal Oak Offshore purists and to us there's nothing more comfortable than the original 42 mm Offshore, we feel that the 44 mm case is just as comfortable. The wrist presence of this new anthracite dial Offshore is just out of this world and all we can say is that we were pleasantly surprised by how good this watch looks all around.
Sticker Price $41,700 USD. For more info on Audemars Piguet click here.
Macros: All The New Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshores in 42mm from SIHH 2014. Stunning Under the Lens.
Nothing better than a short post with some powerful images for a relaxing Sunday morning. Enjoy these macros that we took during the presentation of the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 42mm collection at the SIHH 2014 last month. These images shows the beauty behind these new models in a very special way. Now, enjoy the eye candy!
For more info on Audemars Piguet click here.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Openworked Extra-Thin Tourbillon. The Prototype in Stainless Steel.
During our visit to the SIHH 2014 in Geneva a few weeks ago, we ran into a handful of fascinating timepieces worth talking about. This time is the turn for the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Openworked Extra-Thin Tourbillon ref. 26511PT.OO.1220PT.01, which is one of the thinnest tourbillon movements in the market. This watch is only available in a limited series of 40 pieces in platinum and fortunately enough, we were able to witness the stainless steel prototype of this watch —featured here— during our meeting with Audemars Piguet. This fascinating timepiece was launched to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Royal Oak in 2012 and is as exceptional as it gets.
Fitted with a 950 platinum case measuring 41 mm in diameter and only 8.85 mm in thickness, this exceptional timepiece is fitted with anti-reflective treated sapphire crystals on front and back and the most beautiful openworked slate grey dial we have seen in a very long time. The openworked —skeletonized— dial features an anthracite galvanic treatment, white gold applied hour-markers, hands with luminescent coating and a platinum tourbillon at 6 o'clock.
The beating heart inside this timepiece is the manual wound Audemars Piguet calibre 2924 composed of 216 parts, 25 jewels, a thickness of 4.46 mm and which provides a power reserve of 70 hours when fully wound. This calibre also includes a discreet power reserve indicator and is a real treat for the eyes.
Fitted with the iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak bracelet, this watch is just as comfortable as any other Royal Oak on the wrist. The wrist presence is unparalleled and this watch is another perfect example of why 'to break the rules you first must master them'. Special thanks to Audemars Piguet for letting us peruse this very special timepiece during our visit at the SIHH 2014. Until next year!!!
For more info on Audemars Piguet click here.
Rare Bird: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Automatique Tourbillon 25th Anniversary. Only Five Pieces Ever Made in 18K Rose Gold.
During our week in Geneva attending the SIHH 2014, we ran into some very interesting timepieces, some highly collectible grails and one watch in particular, that took our breath away. While meeting with one of our special friends from Audemars Piguet, we had the opportunity to peruse, perhaps one of the most unique and rare Royal Oaks ever made, the Royal Oak Automatique Tourbillon 25th Anniversary ref. 25831 of which only 5 pieces were ever made in 18K rose gold to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. This exceptional limited edition watch was produced in very limited quantities in stainless steel —only 25 pieces—, 18K yellow gold —5 pieces—, 950 platinum —5 with blue dial and 5 with salmon dial— and it is the only Royal Oak Tourbillon fitted with an automatic calibre. It is also known, that there's one unique piece in a combination of 18K rose gold and 18K white gold created specifically for the Sultan of Brunei.
This particular watch bearing serial number 1 comes with an 18K rose gold case measuring 40 mm in diameter, an ivory off-white 'petite tapisserie' dial with off-centered hours and minutes, date indicator at 3, power reserve indicator at 9 and a tourbillon at 6 o'clock that is framed by a miniature squeezed octagonal Royal Oak bezel. The hands on the date and power reserve indicators are blued and the markers and hands on the off-centered hour/minute dial are fitted with luminescent material.
In case you have not noticed yet, the peculiarity of this timepiece, is that it lacks of a winding crown on the case band at 3 o'clock. In order to wind and set the time, the watch is fitted with a special crown on the case back right above the Royal Oak engraving. This timepiece is powered by the Audemars Piguet automatic calibre 2875 and it is known to be the only automatic Royal Oak Tourbillon ever made.
On the wrist, this watch is nothing but perfect. We were even lucky enough to make it fit on our wrist for the mandatory wrist shot. As some of you like to say on the watch forums: "wrist shot or it didn't happen". Well, here's a wrist shot for those of you wondering if this really happened or not, for those of you still wondering whether this is a day dream, just pinch yourselves twice to make sure you it is not and you are indeed reading this post.
Sticker Price 'Priceless'. For more info on Audemars Piguet click here.
