During the SIHH 2014 trade show, AP has offered a whole bunch of new watches those including a set of refreshed Royal Oak Offshore collection of sporty chronographs. There were different versions in gold, plain steel, and even glossy white ceramic. The model that impressed me the most (i.e. I would even seriously consider it being my next THE watch if I didn’t have other, more important plans for this year) was, surprisingly, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Vintage Safari (Ref. 26470ST.OO.A801CR).
Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Michael Schumacher in Platinum and Cermet (Ref. 26568PM.OO.A021CA.01)
Right after the stunning Jaeger-LeCoultre Aston Martin AMVOX7 Chronograph (Ref. 194T470) that was announced just last week, Audemars Piguet presents a motorsports-themed chronograph of its own. Although significantly (some might even say – outrageously) more expensive than the timekeeper offered by JLC, the new Royal Oak Offshore Michael Schumacher (Ref. 26568PM.OO.A021CA.01) somewhat lacks in the department of elegance and looks closer in style to ultra-expensive limited editions that Hublot offers from time to time.
Audemars Piguet Chronographe Royal Oak Offshore Tour Auto 2012 Limited Edition (Ref. 26208ST.00.D305CR.01)
Being for the last six years an “official timekeeper” of the annual Tour Auto historic car race event, the Swiss watchmaker has a good tradition of presenting special edition version of their signature RO Offshore model. This new Audemars Piguet Chronographe Royal Oak Offshore Tour Auto 2012 Limited Edition (Ref. 26208ST.00.D305CR.01) features the same traditionally massive stainless steel body with the iconic octagonal bezel. Predictably, the special edition chronograph sports the familiar blue, white and red colors of the French flag.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph in Steel (Ref. 26400SO.OO.A002CA.01)
Although the facelifted models from the elegant and dressy Jules Audemars line designed with CEOs in mind were unarguably the drawing cards of AP’s exhibition at SIHH 2011, it was the refreshed “muscular” Royal Oak Offshore collection –including the new Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph in Steel (Ref. 26400SO.OO.A002CA.01)— that was immortalized thanks to Audemars Piguet’s longstanding partnership with Arnold Schwarzenegger that has received the bulk of attention from enthusiasts around the world.
Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Selfwinding (Ref. 15170OR.OO.A088CR.01)
Presented in January 2011 at the annual SIHH 2011 show, the Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Selfwinding (Ref. 15170OR.OO.A088CR.01) combines the time-proven automatic movement with the 2011 lineup’s refreshed style.
Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Moon-Phase Calendar (Ref. 26385OR.OO.A088CR.01)
The rose gold version of the new Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Moon-Phase Calendar (Ref. 26385OR.OO.A088CR.01) was officially presented at SIHH 2011 industry event. Although the dressy timekeeper doesn’t bring to the table anything new both in terms of ergonomics and industrial design, I’ll tell you this: a classic calendar watch has never looked so beautiful.
Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Small Seconds Ladies (Ref. 77238BC.OO.A002CR.01)
For the year 2011, Audemars Piguet has updated its “modern classic” Jules Audemars line with a discreet Jules Audemars Small Seconds model in 18-karat white gold (Ref. 77238BC.OO.A002CR.01).
Audemars Piguet Millenary 4101 Automatic
The asymmetric Millenary 4101 (ref. 15350ST.OO.D002CR.01) was officially presented at the SIHH 2011 show and immediately became Audemars Piguet’s new icon. Just like it was done with the recently presented Piaget Emperador Coussin Tourbillon Ultra-Thin and the stunning De Bethune DB28 in titanium, the new Millenary 4101 takes the idea of a skeletonized watch and, literally, turns it inside out.
Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Dual Time in Rose Gold (Ref. 263800R.OO.0002CR.O1)
The new self-winding Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Dual Time (Ref. 263800R.OO.0002CR.O1) finds another good use for the gorgeous base caliber designed by Jaeger-LeCoultre, their sister brand that, too, is owned by the very same Richemont Group.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy Chronograph (Ref. 26378IO.OO.A001KE.01)
The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy Chronograph (Ref. 26378IO.OO.A001KE.01) is the latest (and, probably, the last) time-measuring device created together with the legendary sportsman, actor, and a politician.