While Audemars Piguet Watch Dimples In Your Necktie Replica has received quite a lot of flak in the past for what several collectors perceive as milking the Royal Oak fame a bit too much, I think the option available within the range is a superb thing. Not everyone is able to afford a tourbillon chronograph, and not everybody wants just a time-only watch. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked Material Good watch includes a bracelet of the identical substance as the instance and an extra alligator leather strap. It’s accessible at Audemars Piguet stores and the Material Good store in NY for $297,000 for the pink variation and $261,000 for the titanium version. Audemars Piguet has been producing some of the most technically interesting watches in their Royal Oak Concept collection for the last few years. Last year they showed off the Royal Oak Concept Laptimer, an exceptionally complex chronograph with three column wheels that could quantify consecutive lap times. And earlier this season, they introduced the both complex Royal Oak Concept Supersonnerie Tourbillon Chronograph view, a minute repeater exemplifying Audemars Piguet’s obsession with all sound clarity and quality.Of program, it’d be unkind to show you pictures and tell you about this watch’s amazing sound without a movie to let you hear that, so do play the movie over to listen to it on your own. The minute repeater complication is frequently regarded as one of the most difficult and… well, complicated to make – so imagine how difficult it’s to create one from scratch. The next thing to keep in mind is that Audemars Piguet didn’t just wish to create a new minute repeater see, they desired to create one which would be the very best.
Three years ago Audemars Piguet gave its bestselling sports chronograph a major overhaul with an in-house movement as well as ceramic buttons and crown. Now a quartet of new models unveiled at SIHH 2017 joins the second generation Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph line-up, including a heavyweight version with a platinum case and bracelet.
The basic models are in stainless steel, starting with the blue on black (ref. 26470ST.OO.A028CR.01). This has a black dial with dark blue chronograph registers, matched with a dark blue chapter ring and alligator strap.
The other steel model has a brown dial (ref. 26470ST.OO.A820CR.01) fitted with pink gold hands.
Then there’s the 18k yellow gold that has a blue dial and gilt sub-dials (ref. 26470BA.OO.1000BA.01) that’s anything but subtle. This is delivered on a matching 18k gold bracelet, but accompanied by a spare alligator strap and 18k gold pin buckle.
The top of the line version is the all-platinum (ref. 26470PT.OO.1000PT.01) that marks the return of the model to the catalogue after a hiatus of several years. Impractically but impressively heavy – it tips the scales at over a pound or half a kilo – the platinum Offshore is a limited edition of 50 pieces with a pale grey dial and black sub-dials. Like the yellow gold model, it’s accompanied by a spare alligator strap with a platinum pin buckle.
All four models share the same specs, with a 42mm case featuring a sapphire case back that reveals the calibre 3126/3840 inside.
Price and availability
The new Offshore Chronographs are available from Audemars Piguet retailers and boutiques, with Swiss francs priced excluding taxes as follows.
Steel and black ref. 26470ST.OO.A028CR.01 – SFr23,500
Steel and brown ref. 26470ST.OO.A820CR.01 – SFr24,000
18k yellow gold ref. 26470BA.OO.1000BA.01 – SFr78,000
950 platinum ref. 26470PT.OO.1000PT.01 – SFr122,000