BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Audemars Piguet has launched the new Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph 26420CE, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Royal Oak Offshore, also known as “The Beast.” This new watch pays homage to the limited edition Royal Oak Offshore “End of Days” watch launched in 1999 in partnership with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The original Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore “End of Days” 25770SN
Photo: Watch Collectors
The 43mm x 14.4mm case is made of black ceramic with titanium elements. The characteristic octagonal black ceramic bezel is attached to the case by eight steel screws, while the push-pieces and the screw-locked crown are black ceramic. The crown guards and caseback are crafted from titanium, finished in line with the brand’s alternating polished and satinée surfaces. The watch is water-resistant to 100m, with glare-proof sapphire glass topping the black dial.
The 26420CE’s dial commemorates the 1999 edition with the new Mega Tapisserie pattern and yellow accents. On the black inner bezel, above the white minute track, is the yellow-printed tachymeter scale. The subdials are black with white markings and hands, while the hour indices and hands are filled with yellow luminescent material and coated in black nickel. A white digit stands out against a black disc in the 4:30 date window. A self-winding flyback chronograph with a 70-hour power reserve and a beautifully adorned pink gold rotor, but is instead anthracite grey as it was colored using a special process.
The watch comes with a black calfskin strap with a textile effect and yellow stitching and an additional yellow calfskin strap with black stitching. The 26420CE is limited to 500 pieces and is priced “on request” but is expected to be around USD 60,000.
