Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. 3 New Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronographs 44mm
Black ceramic case, contrasting materials and smoked dial for the ROO.
A watch introduced in 1992 and that, back then, was met with extreme reactions with its unprecedented approach to luxury watchmaking, the Royal Oak Offshore has since been Audemars Piguet sportiest, most masculine piece – a far more robust version of the octagonal iconic model launched in 1972. From the earliest days, this watch played on contrasts and materials and it still does in 2020, as we can see with three new models of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph 44mm, with bold, accented cases and new smoked dials with Arabic numerals.
Following this collection’s tradition, these 2020 Royal Oak Offshore are ultra-bold, robust watches that will not fail to leave an impression. All three watches share the same base, meaning a 44mm case in brushed black ceramic with polished accents. All three models feature a sapphire crystal on top, a titanium caseback with see-through sapphire and a lateral module that protects the crown and integrates the chronograph pushers.
Each model is differentiated by its contrasting accents. Two of the models rely on coloured ceramic for the bezel, the crown and the pushers, available either in blue or in green. Here the lateral pushpiece guards are titanium. The third model uses 18k pink gold on the bezel and the pushpiece guards, while the pushers and the crown are done in black ceramic.
To match the contrasting elements, these watches also feature brand new dials, with multiple elements making these models original… Yet, the iconic “Mega Tapisserie” pattern is still in place. First of all, the classic baton applied markers have been changed for oversized applied Arabic numerals, generously filled with luminous material. Also, in the vein of recent Audemars Piguet creations, these new Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph 44mm models feature smoked dials, with green, blue or grey colours that darken toward the edges of the dial. On all models, the two sub-counters displaying the chronograph indications are rhodium-toned.
To power these watches, the brand relies on its well-known self-winding calibre 3126/3840, a modular movement (with Dubois Depraz chronograph mechanism) that beats at 3Hz and provides 50 hours of energy. The movement is visible through the caseback, with a blackened openworked rotor and nice decorations.
Strap, Availability & Price
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph 44mm are all worn on a textured rubber strap in blue, green or grey and secured by a titanium pin buckle. These are boutique exclusive models. The blue and green versions will be priced at USD 34,900 and the black ceramic and pink gold model at USD 42,900.
More details at www.audemarspiguet.com.
3 responses
Hi Brice, thank you again for this review, i must confess that i find a little bit disappointing to see a modular chronograph in such a watch, to me any integrated chronograph would have been a better choice ( even a non ” in house” movement like the ETA 7750 will be better than any modular chrono to my point of view ).
It’s very surprising for such a brand and such a price !
Pierre
@Pierre – I do understand your point. Since its introduction in 1993, the ROO has mostly been powered by modular chronograph movements. It was the case for the first model, with the calibre 2126/2840 (a JLC base with a Dubois-Depraz module). However, AP recently launched a 42mm ROO with an integrated movement (ref. 26480TI)
Hi Brice, thank you for your answer, the 42 mm and the integrated movement are both major improvements to my point of view 🙂 !!