Audemars Piguet : Founded in 1875, the manufacture has consistently …

Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication 

Case : titanium (also available in pink gold),  glareproofed sapphire crystal, black ceramic bezel, crown and pushpieces Size : 44mm Movement : self-winding mechanical movement (Caliber 2885, 45h power reserve), 648 components, solid gold oscillating weight with anthracite coating (customizable), column-wheel chronograph, hand-finished cut-out parts (polished bevels, beadblasted, matt surface underneath) and bridges (rounded-off and polished bevels, satin-brushed flanks, circular-grained recesses) Functions : hours, minutes, small seconds, minute repeater, perpetual calendar, split-second chronograph Dial : sapphire, white counters, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, light silver-toned inner bezel ring Water-resistance : 20m Strap : black rubber strap with titanium pin buckle Limited editions : 3-piece limited editions in titanium or pink gold

 

Royal Oak Offshore Diver

Case : black ceramic, glareproofed sapphire crystal, titanium case-back fitted with glareproofed sapphire crystal pane, black ceramic bezel and crowns, titanium studs Diameter : 41mm Movement: self-winding mechanical movement (Caliber 3120,  60h power reserve), 280 components, 22-carat solid gold oscillating weight mounted on ceramic ball bearings, diamond-planed bevels on the bridges with reversed circular Côtes de Genève motif Functions : Hours, minutes, central seconds hand, date Dial  : Black with “Méga Tapisserie” motif, black rotating inner bezel ring with diving scale and orange zone Water-resistance : 300m Strap : black rubber with titanium pin buckle

Watch industry icon for 20 years, the incredibly charismatic Royal Oak Offshore is welcoming this year its first-ever exceptional Grande Complication movement. Composed of 648 parts, the selfwinding movement of the Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication combines minute repeater, split-second chronograph and perpetual calendar functions. To reveal the exceptional nature of the openworking or “skeletonizing” performed by the watchmakers, the parts composing this beating heart are rendered partially visible by the use of a transparent sapphire crystal dial and the fitting of a display back. Among the techniques used to make Caliber 2885 visually appealing, bevelling is undoubtedly the most highly appreciated manual technique, as well as that which requires the greatest accuracy. This exercise, which calls for years of experience, consists in using a file to cut down the edges of components and in polishing them with a slightly curved burnisher, so as to highlight the rim by enabling the light to play across the bevels. Some components, such as the hammers of the minute repeater striking mechanism which are visible through the case-back, combine two finishes entailing highly complex execution : a mirror polish that is so fine that artisans even joke among themselves that “a glance is enough to scratch it” ; along with a bevelling featuring interior and external angles embodying the ultimate expression of the artist’s mastery. This contemporary horological opus in titanium and ceramics remains a creation individually executed by a single artisan who devoted more than 820 hours of painstaking craftsmanship to this task.

 

 

Royal Oak Offshore Ladycat Chronograph

Case : stainless steel, glareproofed sapphire crystal, case-back engraved with Ladycat logo, gemset bezel and studs with 64 brilliant-cut diamonds (1.69cts), black rubber-moulded screw-locked crown and pushers Size : 37mm Movement : self-winding mechanical movement (Caliber 2385, 40h power reserve), 304 components, 18k gold oscillating weight, hand decorations Functions : hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph, date Dial : black dial with “Méga Tapisserie” motif, applied numerals and Royal Oak hands in pink gold with luminescent coating Water-resistance : 50m
Strap : black rubber strap with stainless steel AP folding clasp Limited edition : 150 in steel and 10 in white gold

 

Selfwinding Royal Oak 37mm

Case : 18k white gold (also available in pink gold), glareproofed sapphire crystal, gemset case, bezel and clasp with 152 brilliant-cut diamonds (2.46 cts) Size : 37mm  Movement : self-winding mechanical movement (Caliber 3120, 40h power reserve), 280 components, 22k gold oscillating weight, hand decorations Functions : hours, minutes, small seconds, date Dial : diamond-pavé dial, applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands in white gold with luminescent coating Water-resistance : 50m Strap : hand-sewn blue alligator leather strap with large square scales, gemset 18k white gold AP folding clasp

 

The Royal Oak Offshore Diver maximizes the main technical characteristics of instruments intended for use in underwater activities, in order to guarantee users unfailing reliability at all times. Fully compliant with the NIHS 92-11 (ISO6425) norm, this selfwinding model with its powerful design appears this year for the first time with a case, bezel and easy-grip crowns all made of deep black high-tech ceramics. Machining this avant-garde material, around seven times harder than steel and which only diamonds can scratch, calls for the use of special machines and tools equipped with diamond-tipped milling-cutters. The rotating dive-time pre-selection device, unusually positioned inside the case, is technically far more complex to make than a traditional unidirectional exterior rotating bezel. It offers the advantage of reducing the parallax error and protecting this element from shocks and aggressive external factors such as water, salt or grains of sand that might jam the bezel. To adjust this dive-time indicator, the Audemars Piguet watchmakers have developed a mechanism enabling it to be controlled via a watertight external crown positioned at 10 o’clock along the side of the case middle. This rugged, graphically designed, ergonomic and almost unalterable timepiece focuses on essentials, and The same principle applies to ladies’ models.

Quite obviously intended for sporty women as well as for those who like powerful and graphically designed watches capable of accentuating their dynamic nature, the Royal Oak Offshore Ladycat chronograph bears the colors of the high-tech catamaran sponsored by Audemars Piguet, the only boat in this sailing category competing with a woman at the helm. The new cat colours are harmoniously associated with the dials of the two versions, coming in steel and white gold limited editions. The white gold version of the superlative chronograph, with its black mother-of-pearl dial counters, is adorned with a gemset bezel, case and folding clasp totalling 323 diamonds. The black rubber strap provides a perfect foil for the sparkle of the gems, which are as ever chosen by Audemars Piguet from among the highest-quality stones. The steel variation is equally appealing with its pure lines accentuated by the brilliant-pavé bezel and the likewise gemset studs that merge smoothly into the strap. Representing a further token of the Manufacture’s determination to cultivate luxury right through to the smallest details, this intensely feminine chronograph is equipped with an 18-carat gold oscillating weight visible through the sapphire case-back.

Introduced for the very first time in an automatic version, the Selfwinding Royal Oak 37mm is an exquisite jewellery watch destined to magnify the beauty of women wishing to project a free-spirited image, while also indulging their penchant for ultimate luxury. Hand-assembled and decorated in harmony with tradition, Caliber 3120 is the beating heart of the timepiece, comprising a 22-carat gold rotor that winds it automatically on the wearer’s wrist. This watch in white gold with its powerful design is endowed with pure lines and watchmaking qualities that are bound to appeal to women looking for a time-measuring instrument suitable for wear on all occasions, as well as ladies who are connoisseurs.

 

 

Royal Oak Offshore James Lebron

Case : 18k pink gold, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, caseback engraved with the legend “Royal Oak Offshore Limited Edition Lebron James”, LBJ signature printed in blue on the sapphire crystal, titanium bezel, black ceramic crown and pushpieces, diamond-set pushpiece at 2 o’clock, pink gold and grey rubber pushpiece guards MOVEMENT : mechanichal selfwinding movement (calibre 3126/3840, 55h power reserve), 365 parts, mainplate circular grained, bridges rhodiumed, bevelled, snailed and adorned with Côtes de Genève, diamond-polished jewel sinks and countersinks, bevelled wheel spokes and screw rims, partially openworked 22k gold oscillating weight with anthracite galvanic treatment, raised LBJ signature Functions : driving hour & minute hands, small seconds, date display and chronograph  DIAL : grey dial with “Méga Tapisserie” pattern, grey counters, pink gold applied Arabic numerals, pink gold hands with luminescent coating, grey inner bezel water-resistance : 100 m  Bracelet : hand-stitched “large square scale” grey crocodile with 18-carat pink gold pin buckle. Grey rubber additional strap Limited edition : 600 pieces

 

James Lebron’s achievements to date, Audemars Piguet has created a brand-new very special limited edition timepiece : the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph LeBron James. Not only did James LeBron win two NBA championships in 2012-2013, he was also chosen twice as the NBA Finals MVP and helped lead the American Olympic Basketball “Dream Team” to a gold medal. This is the second time in the history of the game that a player has been an NBA Champion, MVP, and Olympic Gold Medalist. The decision to collaborate with Audemars Piguet on the creation of a limited edition of 600 pieces is a natural result of LeBron’s elegant personal style, and the combination of unabashed masculinity and bold design that’s been the hallmark of the Royal Oak Offshore since it first debuted twenty years ago. Still, the partnership with AP reveils an expression of the dual facets of LeBron James in horological form – Royal Oak Offshore fans might have thought a timepiece made in collaboration with one of the world’s most powerful athletes would be an exercise in pure testosterone, but the combination of subtle visual harmony with the bold lines of the Royal Oak Offshore is a true expression of both the physicality and sophistication of who LeBron James is. “I love the strap, we talked about a lot of possibilities and I thought grey would be the perfect color. At first you really don’t  think pink gold and grey will work together, but when you match it up with this watch and this style, it’s a perfect combination”. The 18k pink gold case lends an air of luxurious richness while at the same time underscoring the powerful geometry of the case, and is set off by the cool, almost silken sheen of the titanium bezel. A further discreet touch of luxury is the single diamond set into the chronograph pushpiece at two o’clock with both pushers, as well as the crown, made in black ceramic.


Rédacteur en chef des magazines GMT et Skippers dont il est le cofondateur depuis 2000 et 2001, Brice Lechevalier est aussi à la tête de WorldTempus depuis son intégration dans la société GMT Publishing, qu’il dirige en tant que co-actionnaire. Il a par ailleurs créé le Geneva Watch Tour en 2012 et conseille le Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève depuis 2011. Côté nautisme, il édite aussi le magazine de la Société Nautique de Genève depuis 2003, tout en étant membre fondateur des SUI Sailing Awards (les prix officiels de la voile suisse) depuis 2009 et du Concours d’Elégance de bateaux à moteur du Cannes Yachting Festival depuis 2015.

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