By Jovan Krstevski
I don’t know about you but I am always excited when it’s time for SIHH watch trade show mainly because of the new watches to be released. Such is the case for the new Audemars Piguet watches particularly the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver Chronograph Watch. If you are familiar with the Royal Oak Offshore Diver watches sporting various versions with fun color schemes and cases made in Forged Carbon and Ceramic (also available in black and white), then the new addition sporting a chronograph will not be a total shock for you. The new divers watch does not have a ceramic case but instead it features a better-looking steel case at least in my opinion.
Reference 26703ST.OO.A027CA.01
Nonetheless, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver Chronograph watch still comes with more traditional color tones and more refreshed designs. The 42 mm wide steel case looks tough and its black ceramic crown positioned at 10 o’clock seems a bit odd to the uninitiated but it does give the watch its unique identity. Besides the main crown (also in black ceramic with a metal interior segment) still resides at the more traditional 3 o’clock position along with the black ceramic pushers for the chronograph. The inner rotating bezel also looks pleasant with 8 screws that seem to heighten the watch’s tough stance.
Reference 26703ST.OO.A038CA.01
The dial versions only differ in color tones but needless to say, all the color tones are bold by design except the subtle version that sports blue dial and strap with yellow accents on the dial and internal rotating bezel making the watch more sporty. The other versions are made of three other bold colors which are orange, lime green, and yellow. The dial looks exceptionally unique featuring large hands with SuperLuminova coatings and raised accents in the form of square patterns. The indices are superb and very readable which is very important for a divers watch.
Reference 26703ST.OO.A070CA.01
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver Chronograph is powered by the in-house Audemars Piguet calibre 3124/3841 automatic chronograph movement beating at a fast rate of 3Hz (21,600 bph) although a faster one at 4Hz, for example, would be more sporty. Its 364 parts are exceptionally engineered with precision technology as expected from the brand however it can not be seen because of the solid caseback. Personally, I prefer this way because being a divers watch, at 300 meters underwater, you would certainly wish you have a solid caseback just in case.
Reference 26703ST.OO.A051CA.01
From what its users say about its high-quality rubber strap sporting non-slip texture, all I can say is that bravo to the designers of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver Chronograph. Pretty sure you will not have a single complaint about its comfortable fit. Also, if you happen to love orange, the orange version of the watch sports more masculine appeal. It looks a bit rough and strong but are they not the qualities we are looking for?
For more info, please visit audemarspiguet.com
JOVAN KRSTEVSKI – FOUNDER, PROPRIETOR & EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Jovan Krstevski has been collecting watches every since his father gave him an Omega Seamaster as a gift when he was just a teenager. He launched Watchgeek back in 2011, which is now known as WristReview and is one of the most widely read watch blogs on the Web. He quotes ’WristReview is a site to help people find, explore, discover and enjoy wristwatches.’ Besides WristReview, he also writes for a number of publications. Read his articles here
