Audemars Piguet introduced a striking new iteration of the Royal Oak Offshore in celebration of the brand's 150th anniversary in 2025. This particular model, reference 26420CE.OO.A063VE.01, showcases a bold fusion of materials and colors, highlighting Audemars Piguet's continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional watchmaking. This particular watch is a chronograph. Chronographs are popular due to their functional appeal, allowing the user to measure elapsed time with precision, adding a practical dimension to the art of watchmaking.
The history of Audemars Piguet dates back to 1875, when Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet joined forces in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. From the very beginning, the company distinguished itself through its commitment to crafting complicated movements and its unwavering pursuit of technical mastery. This dedication to high watchmaking has earned Audemars Piguet a place among the most respected names in the industry, consistently producing timepieces that stand as testaments to both their heritage and their forward-thinking approach. The Royal Oak Offshore is one of their most beloved watches.
Courtesy of Audemars Piguet
The Royal Oak Offshore collection, first launched in 1993, was a bold evolution of the original Royal Oak, a watch that itself had revolutionized the luxury sports watch category in 1972. The Offshore took the distinctive design codes of the Royal Oak – the octagonal bezel, the exposed screws, the integrated bracelet – and amplified them, creating a larger, more robust, and more overtly sporty timepiece. The Offshore quickly became a favorite among those seeking a watch that could stand up to an active lifestyle while still projecting an air of uncompromising luxury, becoming somewhat of a status symbol.
This new Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph presents a dynamic interplay of black and green ceramic, accented by titanium elements. The 43mm case, a substantial yet comfortable size for a sports watch, features a black ceramic case middle. This is contrasted by a striking green ceramic bezel, push-pieces, and screw-locked crown. The use of ceramic is not merely aesthetic; the material is highly scratch-resistant, lightweight, and hypoallergenic, making it ideal for a watch designed to withstand the rigors of daily wear. The material is known for being incredibly hard, meaning it resists scratches and wear much better than traditional watchmaking materials like steel or gold.
Courtesy of Audemars Piguet
The caseback, push-piece guards, and a small chip on the crown are crafted from titanium, a metal known for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. This combination of materials – black ceramic, green ceramic, and titanium – creates a visually arresting three-toned effect, giving the watch a distinctly modern and technical feel. The choice of these materials speaks to the Offshore's identity as a robust and high-performance timepiece. The meticulous finishing of each component, with its mix of polished and satin-brushed surfaces, further enhances the watch's overall quality.
The dial continues the theme of contrasting colors and textures. The deep green "Méga Tapisserie" pattern, a signature design element of the Royal Oak Offshore line, provides a captivating backdrop for the chronograph counters. The "Méga Tapisserie" is a larger, bolder version of the traditional "Tapisserie" pattern found on the original Royal Oak. These counters, rendered in black, offer a clear and legible display of the chronograph functions. The subdials are subtly recessed and feature fine concentric circles, adding depth and visual interest to the dial.
Courtesy of Audemars Piguet
A matching black inner bezel frames the dial, providing a seamless transition to the case. The applied hour-markers and hands are crafted from 18-carat white gold, a luxurious touch that adds a hint of refinement to the otherwise sporty aesthetic. These elements are generously filled with luminescent material, ensuring excellent legibility in low-light conditions. The date window, discretely positioned between 4 and 5 o'clock, features a dark green background that integrates seamlessly with the overall design.
The watch is presented on an interchangeable dark green textured leather strap. The texture of the strap complements the "Méga Tapisserie" pattern on the dial, creating a cohesive visual link. An additional black rubber strap is also included, offering a sportier and more casual alternative. Both straps are fitted with a titanium pin buckle, a secure and comfortable closure system. The quick-change strap system allows the wearer to easily switch between the two options, adapting the watch to different occasions and preferences. This strap changing system doesn't require any tools, and changes the look of the watch at the users whim.
Courtesy of Audemars Piguet
Powering this Royal Oak Offshore is the Calibre 4401, a self-winding integrated chronograph movement that represents the pinnacle of Audemars Piguet's watchmaking expertise. This movement, visible through the sapphire crystal caseback, is a testament to the brand's commitment to in-house manufacturing. The Calibre 4401 is more than just a timekeeping mechanism; it is a finely crafted piece of engineering. It operates at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), ensuring precise timekeeping. This high frequency contributes to the watch's accuracy and stability.
The movement boasts a generous power reserve of 70 hours, meaning the watch can be left unworn for almost three days without needing to be wound. This is a practical feature for those who rotate their watches or don't wear the same piece every day. The movement also incorporates a flyback chronograph function, allowing the user to instantly reset and restart the chronograph with a single push of a button. This is a particularly useful complication for timing successive events, such as laps in a race.
The Calibre 4401 is comprised of 381 individual parts, each meticulously finished and assembled by hand. The movement's decoration includes Côtes de Genève stripes, circular graining, and polished bevels, all visible through the sapphire case back. This level of finishing is a hallmark of high-end watchmaking. The movement features 40 jewels, synthetic rubies strategically placed at points of friction to reduce wear and improve longevity.
Courtesy of Audemars Piguet
The technical specifications of the watch underscore its robust nature. It has a water resistance of 100 meters, making it suitable for swimming and recreational diving. The 14.4mm thickness gives the watch a substantial presence on the wrist, without being overly bulky.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Green Ceramic watch, reference 26420CE.OO.A063VE.01, is priced at $58,400. Its availability is likely limited, given its status as a special edition released for Audemars Piguet's 150th anniversary. This price point reflects the watch's exclusive materials, intricate movement, and the prestige associated with Audemars Piguet.
Case: 43mm. Black ceramic case middle. Green ceramic bezel, push-pieces, and screw-locked crown. Titanium caseback, crown chip, and push-piece guards. 14.4mm thick. 100m water resistance.
Movement: Calibre 4401. Selfwinding. Flyback chronograph, hours, minutes, small seconds, and date. 40 jewels. 70-hour power reserve. 32mm total diameter. 381 parts. 4 Hz (28,800 vph) frequency. 6.8mm thickness.
Dial: Dark green "Méga Tapisserie" pattern. Black counters. Black inner bezel. 18-carat white gold hour-markers and hands with luminescent material.
Strap: Interchangeable dark green textured leather strap. Additional black rubber strap. Both with titanium pin buckle.
Price: $58,400
Reference Number: 26420CE.OO.A063VE.01
Notes: Launched for Audemars Piguet's 150th Anniversary in 2025. Features a three-toned design with black and green ceramic, and titanium details.