BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Audemars Piguet has expanded its Royal Oak Offshore family with a bold and technically impressive watch. The new Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Flyback chronograph features lightweight titanium construction and a highly accurate movement with a flying Tourbillon.
The new Royal Oak Offshore sticks to the sporty design DNA of the Offshore collection, adding both technical and visual complexity. The dial has been thoughtfully open-worked to reveal the complex mechanical internals and heighten the visual excitement. The chronograph layout comprises a 30-minute counter at 3 and a 12-hour register at 9. But what steals the show on this watch is the flying Tourbillon at 6. As for the hands, you get red batons for the chronograph functions and broad lume filled semi-skeletonized hands for normal timekeeping. And while the dial side looks quite busy, folks at Audemars Piguet have a done a great job at keeping the watch very legible.
The 43mm case is made from lightweight titanium and sports a familiar design seen on some previously released offshore chronographs. The angular case, the integrated lug structure, the signature octagonal bezel on top, and those chunky pushers combine to paint a muscular and imposing picture. The bead-blasted finish adds to the rugged appeal and provides a nice contrast to the black sections on the dial and polished bevels on the case. Water-resistance comes in at a healthy 100 meters, which is the least you can expect from a luxury sports watch.
Like the front, the rear of this watch is visually enticing. The exhibition case back gives a nice view of the in-house calibre 2967 that operates at 3 Hz and offers a healthy power reserve of around 65 hours when fully wound. It comes equipped with a flyback function that enables the wearer to quickly reset the chronograph hand without stopping it. The movement continues the monochromatic theme of the dial and features black PVD-coated titanium bridges and a blackened oscillating weight offering a contrast to the steel parts.
The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph comes attached to a black rubber strap that can be easily removed using the ingenious double push quick release system. An additional black alligator strap is also included in the package, and the watch is limited to a production run of just 100 pieces. Price is yet to be announced.
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