Audemars Piguet replica Royal Oak Offshore:a history of limited series
With nearly 30 years of existence,
this second sports watch launch in the history of the audemars piguet replica manufacture turns out to have been a bold decision and is today at the origin of a second undeniable success.
We have chosen to give you a brief review of its history as well as the first limited series in order to better understand the path taken by this collection and what makes it what it is today.
CEO at the time,
Stephen Urquhart began thinking in 1989 about a new version of Royal Oak that could reach a younger clientele;and if it is to Gérald Genta that we owe the first drawing of the Royal Oak in 1971,
the Royal Oak Offshore was born in 1991 under the pencil of Emmanuel Gueit,
watch designer who collaborated with Jacqueline Dimier.
New risk-taking by Audemars Piguet replica pushed by Stephen Urquhart at a time
when the market has never seen a watch of this size,
the launch of this collection and its success is akin to a reiteration of the audacious stroke of poker with the launch of the Royal Oak in 1972 when the market was not expecting it.
The Royal-Oak Offshore was originally to be launched in 1992 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Royal Oak(at the same time as the Royal Oak jubilee ref.
14802ST)Uncertainties and last minute modifications postponed the launch of the Royal Oak Offshore at the Basel 1993 edition.
The first edition bears the reference 25721ST,
it was quickly nicknamed”The Beast”for its imposing size never before seen in watchmaking.
The Royal Oak Offshore is the result of various modifications of the original Genta design with a thickening of the bezel gasket,
a thicker anti-magnetic case as well as rounded bracelet angles.
Hesitating on the name to give to this collection(which was almost called“Challenger”)
the Offshore engraving only appears on the back of the case after the production of the first hundred copies.
The Offshore collection enabled Audemars Piguet replica to innovate and rejuvenate itself with less classic and more“fun”versions of watches combining leather straps and colored dials from 1996.
The Royal Oak Offshore was a wonderful laboratory of ideas,
research and innovation for Audemars Piguet replica,
allowing bold choices with the introduction of many materials that had never been used in the watch industry before:forged carbon case,
introduction of titanium,
ceramic bezel,
or rubber bezel and pushers developed by Dupont called“Therban”according to restrictive specifications.
The Offshore collection also enabled Audemars Piguet to shine through numerous limited series,
starting in 1999,
the first of which was the“End Of Days”series produced in 500 copies and popularized by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Innovative in its look and the choice of materials in the watch industry,
this model is characterized by a PVD-treated case and a Kevlar strap,
a combination never before seen in watchmaking.
The Offshore Collection enabled Audemars Piguet to produce the first case in forged carbon(today largely adopted by its competitors such as Richard Mille),
a material coming straight from the world of aeronautics,
appreciated for its resistance as well as its extreme lightness despite of an imposing size.
The influence of motorsport
The Royal Oak Offshore collection has particularly distinguished itself in the limited editions related to the world of motor racing.
We return in image to the most notorious series which are due to the arrival of Octavio Garcia as”artistic director”in 2003.
Montoya limited series
Circa 2003-Limited edition of 1000 in titanium,
500 in pink gold,
100 in platinum.
One of the first limited editions with a racing driver.
This model is characterized by a bezel with a”Carbon fiber”visual appearance and a leather strap reminiscent of the upholstery of a racing car.
“Grand Prix”limited series
Produced under the pencil of Philippe Vaptzarof(designer who joined Audemars Piguet replica watches in 2004,
with experience in the automotive world),
the”Grand Prix”edition was unveiled in 2010.
This is the second copy of Royal Oak Offshore with a case in forged carbon.
The model surprises with its light weight.
The dial breathes the world of motor racing whose three sub-counters are reminiscent of automobile counters.
The case has a size of 44MM