Product Description
Looking at today's market it's almost impossible to remember a time when chronographs weren't some of the hottest things running in the watch world, and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph has played an undeniable role in that. Along with the Rolex Daytona it's peerless in the luxury sport chrono category, and for a very specific reason: both of these watches have been continuously updated and adapted and refreshed with endless colorways, dial combinations, case metals and gem sets to amazing appeal among enthusiasts and collectors. Manufacturers like Lange & Sohne, F.P. Journe, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and a handful of independents produce gorgeous, haute horology chronographs but none of them can touch the Offshore - or Daytona - for sheer design audacity and wrist presence. What's marvelous is that the Offshore didn't evolve into the big, bold watch that is a piece like this ref. 26470BA.OO.1000BA.01 - from its debut in 1993 the Offshore has always been an aggressive, whale of a three-register chronograph that telegraphed huge personality. This particular ROO - collector parlance for Royal Oak Offshore - accompanied two steel pieces and a limited edition platinum number at the 2017 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), and it really is worth talking about. Anytime AP does a member of the Royal Oak family in precious metal it's something special, and as contemporary as pink gold is this yellow gold number is the same degree of old school and just outta sight. This watch is the perfect mashup of vintage and of-the-moment: Offshore-conspicuous case and bezel, signature Mega Tapisserie pattern in collector-favorite blue, this watch is beautiful, and heavy and luxurious and sporty-ish, all at once. Technically, you could dive with but you probably wouldn't - if for whatever reason you lost it at depth it would actually become sunken treasure, it's that nice. Of course like all modern ROOs since 2014 this watch also has the now standard ceramic pushers and crown, and a sapphire case back through which to view the AP in-house automatic caliber 3126 so it would be safe on the bottom for a good long while, but still. The first Royal Oak in yellow gold was released in 1977 and over the years we've seen Offshores in yellow gold as well, but this most modern version is the best yet. At once familiar yet unexpected.
