Luxury watchmaker Audemars Piquet has launched its latest timepieces, the Royal Oak Offshore collection – a sporty and powerful set that shares the same values as free running co-founder Sebastien Foucan.
In 1993 the brand created the Royal Oak Offshore collection, a distinct yet more muscular take on its traditional Royal Oak timepieces. The newer extra-large watches were in tune with the cultural shifts of the early 90s. People were beginning to express themselves in new ways and the colourful, robust, watches were befitting of the era. The Royal Oak Offshore continues to push boundaries and reinvent itself both creatively and technically.
Fast-forward 27 years and the Royal Oak Offshore collection has a new look and feel thanks to the “Mega Tapisserie” dial that enhances the watch’s sporty aesthetics. Its generous diameter paves the way for large-sized watches and the new pushpiece guards increase the watch’s sturdiness and strong lines. One of the highlights of the collection is the Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph. Black ceramics meet 18-carat pink gold in the newly designed 43mm model powered by Calibre 4401. The refined black “Mega Tapisserie” dial and interchangeable rubber strap complete the design.
The case is 18-carat pink gold, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback with black ceramic bezel, pushpieces and screw-locked crown along with sandblasted 18-carat pink gold pushpiece guards. The black dial with “Mega Tapisserie” pattern, rhodium-toned counters and external zone, pink gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, black inner bezel. The bracelet is a black rubber strap with 18-carat pink gold AP pin buckle and interchangeable strap system and comes with an additional black alligator strap.
As the art of free running continues to grow, so does the new generation Royal Oak Offshore, available now, built stronger than ever thanks to a combination of hard materials and an ergonomic build. The Royal Oak Offshore novelties are powered by Audemars Piguet latest self-winding integrated flyback chronograph, Calibre 4404, visible through the new sapphire caseback. The 43mm offering see the addition of the interchangeable strap system, enabling wearers to easily prepare their Royal oak Offshore timepieces for the next adventure.
Audemars Piquet are collaborating with free running co-founder Sebastien Foucan, who, since the 1990s, has helped the movement to become a global phenomenon with communities regularly gathering to jump, climb and explore cities by giving them a sense of freedom and liberation. Foucan describes free running as a movement with both physical and mental benefits.
The Frenchman has been practicing the unique art for close to thirty years and he continues to be instrumental in the popularity of the movement. His desire to push himself along with his warm personality has helped him develop his own core following of dedicated free runners and his determination and free-spirited attitude made him the perfect ambassador for Audemars Piguet.
Foucan is fronting the new campaign to highlight the watches’ appeal for extreme sport enthusiasts and Audemars Piguet continues to push boundaries, as does their ambassador. “What we do is a lot about discipline, repetition and having a sense of doing things well,” he says in the new video that shows him perfecting his craft. Foucan also cited the brand’s connection to its history as a reason for his excitement in being part of the new Royal Oak Offshore launch.
The Royal Oak Offshore collection is available now. Click HERE to see more information.
