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For 30 years, the Royal Oak Offshore has never stopped breaking the rules.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore – 30 years of pushing the limits

Launched in 1993 in the wake of the 20th anniversary of the Royal Oak, the Offshore model created an even bigger shockwave than the Royal Oak, which had already caused quite a storm in 1972. The Royal Oak Offshore’s oversized proportions, large rubber gasket and virile aesthetic, earned it the nickname “The Beast” at the time of its launch. Created by the designer Emmanuel Gueit, the Royal Oak Offshore drew its inspiration from the creative explosion of the 1980s and the ultra-powerful yacht races that inspired its name.

Derided by many, but embraced by the younger generation in search of adventure and extreme sports enthusiasts, the model became a collection in its own right, imposing its bold aesthetic codes. At the end of the millennium, it became a canvas for the Manufacture’s forward-thinking design and technical innovations as well as a prime platform for different collaborations with numerous celebrities from the worlds of entertainment, sport and music, which anchored it in global culture.

The first 100 Royal Oak Offshore pieces (model 25721) were engraved solely with the Royal Oak name on the case back. The Offshore name was added later.

Emmanuel Gueit’s first sketches included a compass, as a nod to yacht racing, but the Royal Oak Offshore was eventually fitted with a chronograph, the sporting complication par excellence. From then on, its links with the world of sport and performance, in the broadest sense, have continued to multiply over the years.

The Royal Oak Offshore is first and foremost intimately linked with motorized water sports, confirming Audemars Piguet’s involvement in the discipline for several years. One year that stands out in particular is 1986, when the team sponsored by Le Brassus watchmaker came second in the World Offshore Racing Championship in the six-litre category.

Audemars Piguet has also sponsored numerous races over the years, including the “Audemars Piguet Trophy”, a yacht race between Monaco and Saint-Tropez.

For 30 years, the Royal Oak Offshore has never stopped breaking the rules

The Royal Oak Offshore has built its reputation through numerous collaborations with celebrities with strong characters in the world of sport, music and cinema, in keeping with its own strong design. These human encounters have enriched the collection even further, allowing it to evolve in line with these famous people and technical innovations.

For 30 years, the Royal Oak Offshore has never stopped breaking the rules, becoming a veritable laboratory of watchmaking innovation and creativity with new materials, bright colours and innovative designs that celebrate its uncompromising character and its openness to the world.

The Royal Oak Offshore collection now offers a wide variety of sizes, colours and functions for both men and women. The models incorporate a whole range of complications, from perpetual calendars to tourbillons and Grande Complications. The collection also features a multitude of innovative designs, including military themes, openworked dials and refined settings.

A palette of new models celebrating the 30th anniversary of the collection by Audemars Piguet

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Royal Oak Offshore, the Manufacture is launching a variety of new references featuring ceramic.

Among these novelties, Audemars Piguet is unveiling a reinterpretation of its original 1993 Royal Oak Offshore model, designed entirely in black ceramic, for the very first time. Ceramic is a particularly hard and fragile material to work with, requiring meticulous and delicate work to achieve the level of finishing required by the Manufacture. The creation of the ceramic Offshore bracelet was also a challenge all by itself. The monochrome aesthetic of the model is enhanced by a black ‘Petite Tapisserie’ dial with white gold hands and hour markers that truly stand out. With the arrival of these new references combining ergonomics, contemporary materials and bold designs, the Royal Oak Offshore demonstrates that at 30 years of age, the collection has not finished surprising us!

The latest Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph sports a new full black ceramic case and an architectural dial combining black and green hues. © Courtesy of Audemars Piguet.

Inspired by the original 1993 model, this new 42mm Royal Oak Offshore is the first to be designed entirely in black ceramic, offering a monochrome aesthetic that is enhanced by a black ‘Petite Tapisserie’ dial.

About Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet is the oldest fine watchmaking manufacturer still in the hands of its founding families (Audemars and Piguet). Based in Le Brassus since 1875, the company has nurtured generations of talented craftspeople who have continuously developed new skills and techniques, broadening their savoir-faire to set rule-breaking trends. In the Vallée de Joux, at the heart of the Swiss Jura, Audemars Piguet has created numerous masterpieces, testament to the Manufacture’s ancestral savoir-faire and forward-thinking spirit. By pushing the boundaries of what is possible and building bridges between different creative worlds, Audemars Piguet has been able to explore new horizons and create an inspired community.

https://www.audemarspiguet.com