When the Royal Oak first burst onto the scene 51 years ago at the annual Basel watchmaking fair, it was met with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
The new timepiece was not only crafted of steel and fitted with an integrated steel bracelet — a first for a luxury brand — but it featured an astonishing octagonal bezel secured by eight hexagonal screws.
It was a design concept not seen before in the rarefied watch world, and its trailblazing composition became the talk of the Swiss fair.
Today, the Royal Oak remains the stuff of legends.
Audemars Piguet, not a brand to sit on its laurels, has rolled out dozens of iterations since. The most robust of those offshoots, the Offshore, was created to withstand a few knocks with its protective antimagnetic case and its strong water resistance, taking the Royal Oak’s sports-watch concept to an entirely new level.
In honor of the Offshore’s 30th anniversary this year, Audemars Piguet is introducing a gleaming new 43 mm edition, crafted with a combination of titanium, ceramic and 18-karat pink gold.
The new Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding chronograph is a smaller interpretation of the 44 mm version launched in 2020, specifically designed with ergonomics and comfort in mind.
‘Seek beyond.’
Audemars Piguet’s motto
Its bezel is slightly curved from 12 to 6 o’clock, and its sapphire crystal, crown and chronograph-pushers follow suit.
Not surprisingly, it’s powered by the brand’s latest chronograph movement, the Calibre 4401, which boasts 381 parts and has a minimum of 70 hours of power reserve.
The new timepiece offers an updated color aesthetic as well — its 18-karat pink gold case is complemented by its titanium bezel, bracelet studs and the guards that surround its black ceramic push-pieces. The watch’s Méga Tapisserie dial is a soft gray, with pink-gold hands matching its case.
A gray, embossed calfskin strap repeats the timepiece’s soft, yet rich, palette, with a second black rubber strap included. (Audemars Piguet’s interchangeable strap system, introduced in 2021, allows for them to be switched without the need for a visit to a watchmaker.)
As if that weren’t enough, a second version of the new Royal Oak Offshore is available with a black ceramic case accented by a blue ceramic bezel, crown and push-pieces.
The watch’s dial follows the bezel’s rich hue, its shade progressing from blue at the center to black towards its edges.
Audemars Piguet, which is still in the hands of its founding families, is in the rare position among watchmakers of not having to answer to its shareholders. This latest offering proves that the brand is living up to its risk-taking DNA and its enduring motto: “Seek beyond.”