The Royal Oak by Audemars Piguet is one of the most recognizable models in the luxury watch industry, and its look has been a constant since its introduction in 1993. This week at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Audemars Piguet shocked the world of haute horlogerie by announcing it has made some changes to its iconic model.
For 2014, six new iterations of the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph are being launched. To the Audemars Piguet fans out there having heart attacks at the thought of change – don’t worry. The new Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Collection still features that supersize 42mm diameter, and those eight signature polished steel hexagonal screws are still in place on the bezel. The changes are relatively subtle, with a more refined, architectural design and black ceramic pushpieces and crowns.
The new iterations are part of what’s called the ‘26470’ Collection, a nod to the 26170 Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph models that are the predecessors to the new models. As previously stated, black ceramic replaces rubber on the crown and pushpieces of these new models, which have been resized to create a more contemporary look. All of the ‘26470’ Collection are available in stainless steel or 18K pink gold, and feature the distinctive waffle-like ‘Méga Tapisserie’ pattern on the dial. The hours markers are more sculpted, and along with the counters and date window feature polished decorative fillets and a luminescent coating. The engraved 22-carat gold oscillating mass is now visible through the sapphire crystal caseback. And finally, the rubber or alligator strap features a broader taper and a new pin buckle.
Here are the six new models:
This Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 42mm Navy Variant features a royal blue dial and rubber strap, with contrasting orange chronograph hands. Reference 26470ST.OO.A027CA.01This Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 42mm features a black dial, black ceramic crown and pushpieces, and a black Hornback alligator leather strap with red stitching, as well as red chronograph hands. Reference 26470ST.OO.A101CR.01 This Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 42mm is all slate grey, from the dial to the strap. Reference 26470ST.OO.A104CR.01This Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 42mm features a vintage safari look, with a stainless steel case, an ivory-toned dial, khaki colorway and brown strap with cream stitching. Reference 26470ST.OO.A801CR.01This Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 42mm features a pink gold case and dial, which contrast with the black ceramic pushpieces, black subdials and large square scale black strap. Reference 26470OR.OO.A002CR.01This Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 42mm features a pink gold case, dial and bracelet. Reference 26470OR.OO.1000OR.01
The manufacture also introduced the seventh and final new Offshore, which is part of the Diver family, as well as some non-Offshore pieces, including a new addition to its Concept collection:
The newest addition to the Royal Oak Offshore Diver collection showcases Audemars Piguet’s use of white Super Ceramics on the bezel, case middle, pushers and crown. This model features a time pre-selection device (NIHS 92-11 norm). The inner bezel is rotated by a unidirectional ratcheted mechanism linked to a crown at 10 o’clock, and once the crown is screwed in again, there is no risk of inadvertently modifying the dive time. (This piece is also available in steel or a black on black ceramic version.) Reference 15707CB.OO.A010CA.01The 2014 edition of the Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon timepiece combines a titanium case middle, a white ceramic bezel, crown and pushpiece, as well as an integrated rubber strap. Inside the 44mm case, the dial showcases the intricately machined white ceramic upper bridge of the Calibre 2930, the tourbillon carriage and second ‘GMT’ time-zone. Reference 26580IO.OO.D010CA.01The Millenary Minute Repeater features an oval-shaped 47x42mm pink gold case. This hand-wound piece showcases the escapement, double balance spring, striking mechanism and gongs on its three-dimensional dial. The dial also features an off-centre enamel hours and minutes subdial, as well as a 60 seconds subdial. According to the manufacture, the repeater mechanism’s winding system was purpose-built for this watch, with the sliding trigger at 9 o’clock as usual, but the striking barrel at 2 o’clock. Reference 26371OR.OO.D803CR.01
And, last but not least, the manufacture also unveiled three new models for women:
This ladies’ Royal Oak Offshore 37mm model is available in steel and pink gold, and features a slimmer design. The dial features the ‘Mega Tapestry’ pattern and a new chapter ring decorated with curly snailed patterns. The bezel is set with 32 brilliant-cut diamonds. It is completed by a white rubber strap. Reference 67540SK.ZZ.A010CA.01This selfwinding Royal Oak 41mm features a pink gold case set with 166 diamonds. The dial is set with a further 345 diamonds, and also features pink gold hands and hour markers, as well as a date window at 3 o’clock. It is completed by a leather strap. Reference 15402OR.ZZ.D003CR.01This Royal Oak Chronograph 41mm features brilliant-cut diamonds on everything from the pink gold case to the dial, lugs and bracelet. Reference 26322OR.ZZ.1222OR.01
