Produced exclusively for the Spanish market, the special-edition Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Don Ramon de la Cruz (refs. 26192OR.D0801CR.01 & 26287OK.ZZ.D081CR.01) 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 Royal Oak Offshore family were powered by a third-party movement.
The 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 several other expensive watches from different brands, so you understand that, although technically flawless, it is far from being exclusive. The new generation of the Royal Oak Offshore collection 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 chronograph more suitable for those who don’t wear it all week long.
A natural-born chronograph, this caliber features a rapid-adjust date display, a stop-seconds function that makes it easier to adjust the time, and also sports a massive 22-karat gold rotor that allows for faster winding of its long mainspring.
As to the Don Ramon de la Cruz edition, it will be produced in both men’s and ladies’ versions.
The version for the gentlemen will sport a mid-size 42 mm case made of 18-karat 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 remains unknown, but I guess it will cost $30,000 to $50,000. Damn.
See also: Jules Audemars 30th Anniversary Perpetual Calendar (Ref. 26000PT.OO.D028CR.01)
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
Photos: Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Don Ramon de la Cruz specification
Price (MSRP): $60,000 (Ref. 26192OR.D0801CR.01 gents model in a 44 mm rose gold case) / $55,000 (Ref. 26287OK.ZZ.D081CR.01 ladies’ version 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: 18-karat pink gold
Sizes: 42.00 mm (men’s version) / 37.00 mm (ladies version)
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