Close-Up: 6 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronographs


Audemars Piguet‘s most recent releases in its Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph collection feature some contemporary design updates. Here’s a closer look at six Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks, and the similarities and differences they share with their predecessors.

The modern “26470” family of Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronographs — launched two years ago at SIHH 2014 — maintains the case diameter of 42 mm — considered enormous when the Offshore, the more “masculine” successor to the original, smaller Royal Oak watch, was launched in 1993 — but adds some modern aesthetic touches for today’s luxury-sport-watch aficionado.

The case’s crown, chronograph push-pieces, and push-piece guards have been slightly redesigned and resized; the rubber used for the crown and push-pieces of the earlier “26170” Royal Oak Offshore watches has been replaced in the new “26470” models with black ceramic. The dial’s Arabic numeral hour markers have a more sculpted look, with polished fillet borders; the subdials and round date window are also surrounded by polished borders. The new hands are faceted and have a luminescent coating. The colors of the date disks matches those of the dials for greater uniformity.

Of course, the Royal Oak Offshore DNA is still clearly evident: the hexagonal bezel (in satin-brushed and polished steel or rose gold) secured by eight polished steel hexagonal screws; the waffle-like “Mega Tapisserie” pattern on the dial that helps enhance its depth; and the applied Audemars Piguet “AP” initials in white or rose gold directly above a white transfer brand logo on a raised cartouche.

The straps of the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore chronographs, in rubber or alligator leather, have a broader taper and a new, user-friendly pin buckle. Perhaps most importantly for high-horology fans, the watches are also equipped with sapphire casebacks through which they can view the movement, AP Caliber 3126/3840, an automatic with a 55-hour power reserve. Scroll down to see all of the 2014 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronographs, which are available now at retail.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph - blue/blue
Ref. 26470ST.00.A027CA.01, with a stainless steel case, royal blue dial and matching rubber strap, silver-toned counters, white numerals, white-gold hands and a blue inner bezel ($25,600)
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph black/black
Ref. 26470ST.00.A101CR.01, with steel case, black dial and matching black alligator strap, black counters, white numerals, white-gold hands, and black inner bezel ($26,000)
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph gray/black
Ref. 26470ST.00.A104CR.01, with steel case, slate gray dial and matching gray alligator strap, black counters, black numerals, white-gold hands and black inner bezel ($26,000)

Of course, the Royal Oak Offshore DNA is still clearly evident: the hexagonal bezel (in satin-brushed and polished steel or rose gold) secured by eight polished steel hexagonal screws; the waffle-like “Mega Tapisserie” pattern on the dial that helps enhance its depth; and the applied Audemars Piguet “AP” initials in white or rose gold directly above a white transfer brand logo on a raised cartouche.

The straps of the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore chronographs, in rubber or alligator leather, have a broader taper and a new, user-friendly pin buckle. Perhaps most importantly for high-horology fans, the watches are also equipped with sapphire casebacks through which they can view the movement, AP Caliber 3126/3840, an automatic with a 55-hour power reserve. All of the 2014 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronographs are available now at retail.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ivory/brown
Ref. 26470ST.00.A801CR.01, with steel case, ivory-toned dial, brown counters, brown numerals, white-gold hands, brown inner bezel, and brown alligator strap ($26,000)
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph gold/black strap
Ref. 264700R.00.A002CR.01, with 18k rose gold case and rose-gold-colored dial, black counters, black numerals, rose-gold hands, black inner bezel, and black alligator strap ($40,700)
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph gold/bracelet
Ref. 264700R.00.10000R.01, with rose gold case and rose-gold-colored dial, black counters, black numerals, rose-gold hands, black inner bezel and rose-gold bracelet with AP clasp ($69,200)

This article was originally published in 2014 and has been updated.

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  1. The prices have risen to incredible levels. I know, we are talking about luxury products here. But knowing that production costs for these watches are about 2-3% of the official dealer price I have the feeling that this development will come to an end soon. I mean, just to make it clear: For the price of a fully equipped Porsche Cayenne you get about 3-4 ROOs … Now think about all the technology inside a Porsche Cayenne compared to a ROO … got it?

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  2. I keep counting the sides and like Henrik mentioned….there are 8. Hexagonal screws on an octagonal bezel. Just think James Bond Hexapussy. Or, this hexagonal bezel does not have 6 sides, not even 7, but you get 8 sides for the same little fortune.

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  3. Sam Harris

    I now am very motivated to buy one ,but first I’d have to sell my car.

    Reply
  4. Dear Marc Bernardo,
    Regarding my earlier comment, I would like to suggest a comparison test of some of the top brands and their counter fakes in terms of time keeping, appearance ( how close are the faked ones to the originals ) what type of mechanisms the faked use and last but not least , price difference and ease of purchase.
    There is an enormous computerized industry growing rapidly and let’s not be surprised if we soon see swiss sister companies producing watches for 1/10th of the original price unless they want to face another “quartz” crisis that sent home unemployed some 30% of their workers and huge financial losses to the owners.

    I run a photo studio in Greece and for the past 20 years I used to have 19 employees that are reduced to 2 these days! I charge 1/3rd of what I used to and I still find it difficult to convince people to buy my service, not only because of the crisis here but because of the fact that people can see, choose and buy from the internet ready shots for 1/10th of my production cost !!!!

    Managers and marketeers, the world has changed and before we spend our money we make sure it is well spent!!!!!

    Thanks for your time,
    Spiros

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  5. I’ll go for the $25.600 with the rubber strap!!!!! Now I understand … why they wonder why the ” fakes” are so popular. With this money you can buy some 100 fakes and they will last u for ever!!!

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