BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Audemars Piguet offers a glimpse of the 2019 Royal Oak Offshore collection with a preview of three new Royal Oak Offshore Self-winding Chronographs in camouflage colors. Note that these watches will be officially released at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in January 2019.
Audemars Piguet has used a lot of different material and color configurations for the Royal Oak Offshore since its launch in 1993. This is the brand’s very nice sporty model so I am quite thrilled to talk about it. Also, the new 44 mm chronographs continues the brand’s tradition of employing new materials and fantastic configurations such as the ceramic bezel, push-pieces and screw-locked crown, Méga-Tapisserie dial and rubber straps.
Moreover, the brown (ref. 26401RO.OO.A087CA.01) comes in a pink gold case while the blue (ref. 26400SO.OO.A035CA.01) and green (ref. 26400SO.OO.A055CA.01) models are in a stainless steel case. I will add that the pink gold case doesn’t look very delicate, far from it actually thanks to its screwed brown ceramic bezel and camouflaged straps.
All the models feature blue, green or brown ceramic bezels. Interestingly, the brown ceramic is a first for Audemars Piguet and I will admit, it looks good on the pink gold case. Ceramic colors take time to achieve as it requires a complex research stage to find the right pigments, throw in the manufacturing process and it further lengthens the timeframe considering the delicate process. Of course getting to a material that is harder than steel is always the end result which is perfect for a watch to withstand high temperatures and thermal shocks.
Powering the models is the self-winding manufacture calibre 3126/3840 operating at a frequency of 3 Hz or 21,600 vph and capable of providing 50 hours of power reserve.
The watches are also water resistant to 100 meters or 330 feet. Furthermore, the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronographs are mated to camouflage rubber straps. Additional rubber straps in plain blue, khaki green or brown, depending on the model are also provided. Visit Audemars Piguet here.
