Produced exclusively for the Spanish market, the new special edition Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Don Ramon de la Cruz (refs. 26192OR.D0801CR.01 & 26287OK.ZZ.D081CR.01) high-end sports watch will be sold only by the new Don Ramon de la Cruz super-luxury boutique that was recently opened in Madrid, Spain.

Some people, probably, would not believe it, but, before February this year, members of the masculine Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore family of watches were powered by a third-party movement.

The well-known AP 2326 caliber was based on the JLC 889/2 base movement (the one that also powers the stately Vacheron Constantin Overseas Gray collection of automatic chronographs that was released earlier this week) with an additional chronograph module riding piggy-back on it.

Manufactured by Jaeger-LeCoultre, the movement is also used in some IWC and Daniel Roth models, as well as in a number of other expensive watches from different brands, so you understand that, although technically flawless, it is quite far from being exclusive.

The new generation of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore watches is powered by the new 3126/3840 caliber, which is not only produced solely in-house, but is in fact more accurate than the JLC 889/2.

The new caliber also has a 1.5 times longer power reserve of respectable 60 hours, making the watch more suitable for those who don’t wear it on a daily basis.

A natural-born chronograph, this one features a rapid-adjust date display, stop seconds function that makes it easier to adjust the watch, and also sports a massive 22 carat gold rotor that allows for faster winding of its long mainspring.

As to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Don Ramon de la Cruz watch itself, it will be produced in both men’s and ladies’ versions.

The men’s version will sport a mid-size 42 mm case made of 18 carat rose gold and water resistant to 100 meters.

The ladies’ version will be 37 mm in diameter and its water resistance rating will be reduced to just 50 meters.

Both versions will feature a Chestnut brown dial with Mega Tapisserie decoration and Chestnut brown hornback crocodile leather strap with pink gold Audemars Piguet folding clasp and a spare trendy rubber strap.

The ladies’ version will also feature a set of mother-of-pearl counters and eight diamond hour-markers replacing the “1-2-4-5-7-8-10-11” numerals on the men’s model.

Pricing still remains unknown, but I guess it will cost $30,000 to $50,000. Damn.

WWR Verdict

Originality 5/5
Build Quality: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Overall Legibility: 3.5/5
Nighttime Legibility: 3.5/5
Value for Money: 4/5

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

See also: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Carbon Concept Tourbillon and Chronograph watch

Photos: Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Don Ramon de la Cruz automatic chronograph watch specification

Price range (MSRP): $60,000 (Ref. 26192OR.D0801CR.01 gents model in a 44 mm rose gold case) / $55,000 (Ref. 26287OK.ZZ.D081CR.01 ladies watch in a 37 mm rose gold case with diamonds-set fixed bezel)
Movement: AP 3126/3840 caliber, mechanical, automatic, double barrel, 21,600 vph, 22 ct gold rotor, hand-decorated, Swiss Made
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds
Complications: Chronograph with central seconds hand, 30-minute and 12-hour counters, tachometer
Power reserve: 60 hours
Case material: 18-carat pink gold
Case dimensions: 42.00 mm (men’s version) / 37.00 mm (ladies version)
Case height: No data
Dial: Chestnut brown
Water resistance: 100 meters (men’s) / 50 meters (ladies)
Strap: Chestnut brown hornback crocodile leather with pink gold AP folding clasp / rubber strap
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective treatment on both sides

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