After a year-long celebration to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Royal Oak, Audemars Piguet directs its attention to the younger and sportier brother that turns 10 this year, the Royal Oak Offshore collection. The star piece is the 44mm Grande Complication Royal Oak Offshore Titane, the first grand complication model to ever grace the Royal Oak Offshore collection. Like most grand complications, the self-winding Calibre 2885 holds the traditional combination of a minute repeater, split-second chronograph and perpetual calendar. An openwork dial and an exhibition case back reveal the intricate and well-finished movement as well as the solid gold oscillating weight that has been given a black surface treatment for a touch of contemporary ruggedness. This watch is available in titanium and ceramic or rose gold, each in a limited edition of three pieces.
The 44mm Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph joins the family as the first series-produced chronograph to bear an all-ceramic case middle and bezel. Resilient and durable, the watch is water-resistant to a depth of 100m and is endowed with a 55-hour power reserve.
Water sports enthusiasts looking for a watch that can accompany them to even greater depths will like this year’s Royal Oak Offshore Diver with its suit of black ceramic, and bright orange diving scale and accents. The watch is water- and pressure-resistant to 300m and the crown at 10 o’clock adjusts the dive-time indicator. It is powered by the Audemars Piguet Calibre 3120, which can be admired via the sapphire crystal exhibition case back.
Finally, rounding up this fine selection of men’s timepieces is the Tradition Tourbillon Minute Repeater Chronograph in a cushion-shaped Tradition case, inspired by a similarly shaped 1920s pocket-watch from Audemars Piguet’s private museum. Sized in a generous 47mm, this model is offered in either pink gold or titanium, the latter being a better option because of the material’s ability to deliver better acoustics. Only 10 pieces of each version are available.
Audemars Piguet is placing a noticeably larger emphasis on its ladies offerings this year, with the launch of a new feminine advertising campaign that gives these watches a more glamorous platform of publicity. The new Royal Oak Offshore Ladycat, named after the catamaran helmed by Dona Bertarelli (the only female skipper vying for the coveted Vulcain trophy) is a glamorous yet sporty timepiece that can be worn throughout the day. Audemars Piguet has been the proud co-sponsor for the seventh consecutive year and this is the first time the brand has introduced a watch created especially in Bertarelli’s and the Ladycat’s honour.
There are two versions to the Royal Oak Offshore Ladycat — one in white gold with black mother-of-pearl dial counters and another in stainless steel. Both come with gem-set bezels, with the gold version complemented by a diamond-set case and folding clasp.
The classic Royal Oak ladies collection adds two new models that shine with the brilliance of diamonds. The 37mm Royal Oak Ladies is fitted with the automatic Calibre 3120 movement and comes with a blue alligator leather strap and 2.46cts worth of diamonds. The smaller 33mm Royal Oak Ladies is available with a quartz movement in steel with a diamond-set steel bracelet or in a diamond-set pink gold case with a white alligator leather strap.
Lastly, the elegant round-cased Jules Audemars collection adds a gem-set pink gold version that comes with a new bracelet created especially for ladies. Diamonds decorate the dial and adorn the hour indices that seem to radiate from a central guilloché motif. The manual-winding Calibre 3090 powers this 33mm watch.
Go back to Moments of Rapture – The breathtaking pieces that stole the limelight at this year’s SIHH