AUDEMARS PIGUET The Royal Oak Offshore Rises

In 1970s, it was an era when gold was considered the only high-end option. Audemars Piguet, however, introduced the world a high-end sports watch in steel. It was a serious gamble. The watch turned out to be recognised very soon due to its one-of-a-kind design – an octagonal bezel, hexagonal screws and a bracelet integrated into the case. Its name is Royal Oak. Today, the Royal Oak collection features a wide array of remarkable models and has become the brand’s most iconic trademark.

In 1970s, it was an era when gold was considered the only high-end option. Audemars Piguet, however, introduced the world a high-end sports watch in steel. It was a serious gamble. The watch turned out to be recognised very soon due to its one-of-a-kind design – an octagonal bezel, hexagonal screws and a bracelet integrated into the case. Its name is Royal Oak. Today, the Royal Oak collection features a wide array of remarkable models and has become the brand’s most iconic trademark.

Every year Audemars Piguet rolls out new Royal Oak watches. And this year the largest one is not bigger than 44mm, while the latest Royal Oak Offshore chronographs are even smaller, in 42mm, same as the original one launched in 1993. In the early 1990s, large-sized watches were not in the mainstream and a 42mm watch was considered huge. Yet, trend changes today. It is not uncommon to see scores of watches in 44mm or even 47mm. The Manufacture proved to be a pioneer – it set the trend for oversized watches that has continued ever since. First released in 1993, the Royal Oak Offshore looked even sturdier and sportier with a more masculine line. Besides breaking the rule of size, the very first models were in stainless steel, gold and platinum, followed by other models in titanium, carbon, ceramic and cermet. The Royal Oak Offshore has become one of the pillar collections of the brand – the Grande Complication revealed last year is no doubt an amazing watch with perpetual calendar, minute repeater and split-seconds chronograph. The watch costs $5,800,000 and comes in a scare edition of 9 rarities, 8 of which were sold within a few days at last year’s SIHH. This year, we see an entirely new line of Offshore maintaining the original 42mm size, yet moves things on from its Calibre 26170 predecessor. The chronographs are available in various colours and materials, all equipped with the distinctive octagonal bezel, hexagonal screws and black ceramic crown and pushpieces. The case and bezel are completed with flawlessly polished edges. The dial is adorned with the brand’s iconic Mega Tapisserie motif, while the date window is located at 3 o’clock. The new Offshore Chronograph family provides 4 stainless steel models: navy blue dial along with rubber strap, black dial, slate grey dial and ivory-toned dial along with alligator strap. The other 2 are in pink gold case paired with black alligator strap and pink gold bracelet respectively. Powered by the automatic Calibre 3126 / 3840, the watch has a power reserve of 55 hours and is water resistant to 100m. The stainless steel models are priced around $200,000, almost an entry level of Royal Oak models.

Royal Oak Offshore42mm Chronograph

Specification：表殼：不鏽鋼或玫瑰金直徑：42mm機芯：3126 / 3840自動功能：時、分、小秒、日期、計時約售：$543,000

約售$204,000

約售$204,000

約售$319,000

約售$204,000

約售$201,000

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Royal Oak ConceptGMT Tourbillon

Specification：表殼：鈦金屬（陶瓷表圈）直徑：44mm機芯：2930手上鍊功能：時、分、陀飛輪、兩地時間、10日鍊、功能選擇指示
  

The Manufacture has been using ceramic in watchmaking for years. This year, they present us the stunning white ceramic. If you think it is merely a change of colour, you are going to underestimate it. The white ceramic has more to offer. Its hardness is 1,850 Vickers, which is 40% more resistant to scratches than black ceramic and 9 times harder than steel. Only can diamond make scratches to this ceramic. So the watch is made almost totally scratchproof. With century-old history, Audemars Piguet are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of fine watchmaking. They make the octagonal bezel a classic design and have been the pioneer in the use of innovative materials. In 2008, they showed us the Royal Oak Carbon Concept Tourbillon and Chronograph – a watch first combined a forged-carbon case and movement mainplate. Three years later, they unveiled the Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon, with a titanium case and black-ceramic octagonal bezel. This year’s Concept GMT Tourbillon features a white ceramic bezel, crown, pushpieces, and the hourglass-shaped bridge of the hand-wound Calibre 2930, all heightening the contrast with the titanium case. The tourbillon is showcased at 9 o’clock, while the GMT display and function selector are located at 3 o’clock and 6 o’clock respectively. The twin barrels ensure the 44mm watch runs for as many as 10 days. (Price around $1,586,000)

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Royal Oak OffshoreTourbillon Chronograph

Specification：表殼：鉑金（陶瓷表圈）直徑：44mm機芯：2912手上鍊功能：時、分、陀飛輪、計時、9日鍊
 

The white ceramic is certainly one of the highlights this year. But this Royal Oak Offshore that you’re looking is still absolutely worth mentioning. It is a tourbillon chronograph with an openworked dial. The case has a chunky masculine size of 44mm. Through the navy blue dial you can see the two magnificent barrels offering up to 237 hours of power reserve. The tourbillon sits at 9 o’clock and the 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock. The two rectangular pushpieces are indeed another signature of the Offshore. Powered by the hand-wound Calibre 2912, the watch features a platinum case and black ceramic bezel. 

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Royal OakOpenworked Extra-Thin 

Specification：表殼：玫瑰金直徑：39mm機芯：5122自動功能：時、分、日期

In 2002, we saw the openworked Royal Oak, the limited edition of 40th anniversary watch made in platinum. If you missed it then, you may consider this pink gold version just released a few months ago. The watch features a semi-skeletonised dial as its predecessor. You can see the sculptural openworking of the calibre as well as the finest hand-applied finishing on both bridges and mainplate through the dial. The slate grey bridges and the silver parts make the watch look more outstanding. Powering this handsome piece is the 3.05mm thick automatic Calibre 5122. The 39mm watch is only 8.04mm thick and comes with a pink gold bracelet.

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Royal Oak OffshoreDiver

Specification：表殼及表圈：陶瓷直徑：42mm機芯：3120自動功能：時、分、秒、日期

It seems that 2014 is Audemars Piguet’s year of white ceramic. Another novelty using the white ceramic is the Offshore Diver. The white ceramic is applied not only on the bezel but also the case. And we’ve just mentioned how strong and reliable of this super ceramic. So, the white ceramic, an ultra-hard composite material, perfectly complements diver’s watch. The watch has a white dial adorned with the Mega Tapisserie (last year’s version is a black one) and the hour and minute hands with blue accents enhance the readability. The watch is protected by an anti-magnetic inner case and is equipped with a time pre-selection device that can be activated by the internal bezel adjuster at 10 o’clock. Powered by the automatic Calibre 3120, the watch is 42mm in diameter and water resistant to 300m, with power reserve of 60 hours. (Price around $187,000)

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The Audemars Piguet Women
SelfwindingRoyal Oak 

Specification：表殼：玫瑰金直徑：41mm機芯：3120自動功能：時、分、秒、日期
 

Paved with sparkling diamonds, the Royal Oak is feminised on women’s wrist. And you don’t feel it is too masculine for women. The brand describes it as ‘The Audemars Piguet Women’. The timepiece is 41mm in diameter, which is a bit bigger than normal women’s watch. But it is still acceptable when considering the popular trend of women wearing men’s sports watches. Equipped with the automatic Calibre 3120, the piece is adorned with 511 grade IF diamonds (4.16 carats), provides a striking contrast to the sporty look of Royal Oak. Last but not least, the brand chooses a grey alligator leather for matching the pink gold case. (Price around $645,000)

Royal OakChronograph

Specification：表殼：玫瑰金直徑：41mm機芯：2358自動功能：時、分、小秒、日期、針時
 

認為剛介紹的大三針已經很有分量很耀眼嗎？那麼這枚計時表的鑽石幾乎可以用鋪天蓋地來形容。腕表屬全鑽款搭配金屬鏈帶，感覺奢華豔麗。玫瑰金表殼尺寸與大三針款式同樣是41mm，腕表的表殼、表Another beauty is the Royal Oak Chronograph, which boasts more diamond than the Selfwinding Royal Oak just mentioned. Exquisite and sophisticated, the watch is set with 966 grade IF diamonds (7.84 carats) from head to toe, namely the case, dial, lugs, bracelet and even the tiniest surfaces like the pink gold wedges that isolate the crown from the pushers. The 41mm case is in pink gold with the date window located at 4:30. Equipped with the automatic Calibre 2385, the piece offers 40 hours of power reserve. (Price around $1,216,000)

High Jewellery

Specification：表殼：白金直徑：28.5mm機芯：3091手上鍊功能：時、分

Every year, the Manufacture crafts an exceptional haute jewellery piece, committed to its high jewellery production tradition. The masterpiece unveiled this year is embellished with no less than 449 diamonds (over 10 carats). The glamour of this piece lies on not only the sparkling diamonds but also its asymmetric and symmetric lines. It blends Art Nouveau’s free-flowing lines with Art Deco’s geometric architecture. The 28.5mm white gold case is surrounded by the dangling baguette-cut diamond charms that swing in time with the wearer. To examine the piece closer, you will find that the exceptional bracelet is composed of two slim diamond studded ribbons. Crisscrossing their way in symmetrical fashion from the case to the clasp, the ribbons beautifully harmonises with the petite case. At the heart of this piece is the hand-wound Calibre 3091 instead of a quartz movement usually used in jewellry watches. (Price around $5,342,000 )