Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary

Audemars Piguet will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Royal Oak Offshore line in 2018. The world-renowned luxury wrist watches maker celebrates this important event with the Royal Oak Offshore Self-winding Chronograph and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph 25th Anniversary.

In 1993, Audemars Piguet made a bold move by launching the Royal Oak Offshore that has been one of the best-selling collections in the luxury watch brand segment. To mark its 25th anniversary, Audemars Piguet will launch three special Royal Oak Offshore offerings at the SIHH 2018. Here's a peek at the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph 25th Anniversary and the Royal Oak Offshore Self-winding Chronograph.

The Royal Oak Offshore Self-winding Chronograph is a re-edition of the first chronograph released in 1993. This re-edition Ref. 26237ST pays tribute to the original version as it features a 42mm stainless steel case and bracelet with a blue Petite Tapisserie dial. Similar to its predecessor, the re-edition also includes blue rubber pushers for the chronograph and a screw-down crown with water-resistance of 100m. This commemorative chronograph differs from the newer Royal Oak Offshore Self-winding Chronographs as it features a solid case back with the engravings of the Royal Oak Offshore logo. The subtle differences between the re-edition and the original version include some variations in the seconds' track and a Swiss Made print on the periphery of the dial.

This re-edition of the Royal Oak Offshore Self-winding Chronograph comes with Caliber 3126/3840. This movement is also used in the latest Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph watches and includes a 22k gold rotor, chronograph and date complications, as well as a power reserve of 50 hours.

Together with the re-edition, Audemars Piguet will launch the new Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph namely Ref. 26421ST and 26421OR that sports new designs in two different cases.  Based on the earlier Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph watches, the newer editions come in stainless steel and 18k rose gold which features a new case design with a thinner bezel and a more open dial while still keeping the distinctive design of the Royal Oak Offshore. The new editions still have an angular 45mm case and octagonal bezel with exposed hexagon screws. These watches have black ceramic pushers for the chronograph, a screw-down crown, and water resistance of 100m.

The dial noticeably displays the exposed movement with the tourbillon at 9 o'clock and the 30-minute counter of the chronograph at 3 o'clock. Two mainspring barrels are also visible and distinctive skeletonized bridges extend from each of the eight screws which tie the design of the case, dial, and movement altogether.

These watches contain the in-house hand-wound Caliber 2947 which features 338 components, an integrated chronograph movement with a column wheel mechanism, and an unbelievable power reserve of 237 hours. These luxury wrist watches are certainly something to watch out for in the coming SIHH 2018 as each Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph 25th Anniversary editions are limited to only 50 pieces.