Born to the gods of timepieces: Switzerland, Audemars Piguet is the innovation in watchmaker manufacturing. The family-run business was founded in 1875 from small-town Vallée de Joux, Switzerland, just off the shores of France. Known to the billionaire circle as the most respected name in watch manufacturing in the world, these pioneers of horology, Audemars Piguet first launched their signature watch, one of the most iconic watches in history: the Royal Oak wristwatch in 1972, one of their greatest achievements.
What makes the Royal Oak collection so revolutionary? Its octagonal case, covered in gold, which at the time was an obscene idea. Now sold in stainless steel, Audemars Piguet is the founder of luxury sports watches, waterproof for billionaire sports enthusiasts.
The Royal Oak boasts of safari excursions and trekking, as it was designed to be. But essentially, the Royal Oak is made to resemble vintage diving helmets, with visible screws to portray the air-tight helmet casing.
Audemars Piguet even turned down James Bond! Expressing their target maven would be royals and the like. They expressed they did not need the excessive promotional spotlight MGM Studios would offer to them.
The Offshore later became Audemars Piguet most coveted model, a bulky, incised strap watch that didn’t take well to audiences at first. The Swiss brand still uses their historical 100-year-old equipment to create their signature watches, a symbol of homage.
Upon the 25th anniversary of the Royal Oak Offshore, the Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph has been released in an 18-carat pink gold and stainless-steel casing. The 45-millimeter watch is slightly larger than its forerunner.
The timeless classic has a glare-proofed sapphire crystal and case back, a pink gold bezel, black ceramic screw-locked crown, and push pieces; sandblasted pink gold push piece guards, and the watch is water resistant up to 100 meters deep. The wristwatch boasts a black dial, with pink gold hands hugging the luminescent coating around the dial. The bracelet is a black rubber strap with 18-carat pink gold pin buckle.
In its earlier days, the Sports Offshore was an avant-garde design, with jumbo casings and overall brilliance. But in the modern day, the Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph still holds its extensive size to match luxury sports and games. The watch clocks with urbanity.
What is truly inspiring of the Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph is the watch back. AP shows off the sleek design, engravings, a weight stamp etching, and gravity defining precision.