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. 26470ST.OO.A820CR.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 - was one of two new 42mm steel pieces - along with a yellow gold piece and a limited edition platinum number - unveiled at the 2017 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH). This one is long overdue. The conspicuous case, octagonal bezel and Mega Tapisserie dial are signatures of the Offshore so it's the brown on brown scheme coupled with beige numerals and pink gold hands that should really get collectors going here - the coolness of the steel perfectly compliments the warmth of the dial. If ever there was a watch to be nicknamed the "Havana," this should be it - this is milk chocolate and coffee beans. Of course beyond aesthetics, 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. Brown dials have been hot in wristwatches for the last few years but you pair this ROO with an aubergine strap and it would be unbelievable. This is a Royal Oak Offshore, bold from the start, flamboyant to the end.
