Although the main Audemars Piguet Royal Oak series is almost universally respected as the progenitor of luxury stainless steel "bracelet watches," its younger sibling, the Royal Oak Offshore, has historically had a more controversial reputation. Lacking the weight of the standard Royal Oak's reputation to constrain it, the Royal Oak Offshore series has evolved into a standalone entity with a bolder, louder, and more aggressive character than the parent line. In 2021, the brand introduced a new flagship for the bolder younger sibling of the Royal Oak, combining a revised case design with a new case size and an impressive set of complications. The new limited edition Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph offers a tougher, more muscular interpretation of the Royal Oak Offshore design, combined with an ultra-modern skeletonized movement featuring a flying tourbillon.
The sandblasted titanium case of the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph, measuring 43 mm, is immediately recognizable as a Royal Oak Offshore, but it pushes the concept in a more futuristic and aggressive direction. Positioned between the existing 42 mm and 44 mm Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph models, the new case retains such signature elements as the high-polished and bead-blasted octagonal bezel and integrated lug design, but significantly alters the shape of the chronograph pushers and the crown.
The new case is both angular and muscular, with a resilient organic flow reminiscent of a modern Lamborghini. The wide, beaded, and chamfered crown guards are deeply cut back to showcase the sharply faceted black ceramic chronograph pushers, then sharply taper back outward to frame the octagonal black ceramic crown.
Other changes to the Royal Oak Offshore formula here are subtle, but they also enhance the muscular feel of the overall design against the monolithic heft characteristic of other case variants.
Perhaps the best example of this is the polished chamfer running the length of the case above the integrated lugs. In this model, the chamfer tapers to the tips of the lugs much more aggressively than on the 42 mm or 44 mm cases, and this wider smooth chamfer adds a brighter flash to the visual equation while helping to impart a curve to this famously angular case. On the backside, the edge of the sapphire display caseback mirrors the iconic Royal Oak bezel with its octagonal shape and accent screws.
Despite the fact that the overall shape of the watch is aggressive, strong, and extremely sporty, its actual water resistance is 100 meters.
Instead of the traditional "mega-tapisserie" dial texture of most Royal Oak Offshore models, the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph opts for an ultra-modern skeleton look. As with the case, the skeleton design carries shades of modern supercars, especially in the wide chamfered bridges framing the 6 o'clock flying tourbillon and the ribbed, vent-like structure of the movement's baseplate beneath it.
The matte black titanium finish of these bridges and the overall simplicity of the bridge layout keep the visual focus on the timekeeping elements in initial images, while the mainspring barrel and matte gear train elements form a visual backdrop for the upper half of the dial. With its oversized form, uncluttered surroundings, and framing bridges, the flying tourbillon at the “6 o’clock” position forms a natural visual centerpiece, and the thin three-pronged tourbillon cage maximizes the display of the escapement's inner workings.
To improve readability against the skeletonized backdrop, all flyback chronograph elements are highlighted in bold red, including the central chronograph seconds hand and the hands of the off-axis skeletonized subdials. The bright 18-carat white gold polish helps the skeletonized watch hands stand out against the predominantly black color.
Audemars Piguet equips the new Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph with the automatic Caliber 2967 movement, featuring a flying tourbillon and flyback chronograph. First introduced in the Code 11.59 series, the Caliber 2967 has undergone significant aesthetic updates to match the sporty and aggressive look of the Royal Oak Offshore line.
Beyond the visual update, this remains Audemars Piguet's first-ever chronograph movement with a flying tourbillon, equipped with a flyback function, and the ultra-modern skeletonized design offers a solid 65-hour power reserve at a 21,600 bph beat rate.
Audemars Piguet completes the watch with a new integrated strap system for easy interchangeability. The black rubber strap with revised and sharply tapering grooves pairs sportily with the aggressive Offshore look, but the watch also comes with a hand-stitched black alligator leather strap.
The new limited edition Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph, with one of the brand's most striking modern movements and a muscular evolution of the classic Royal Oak design, is a new aggressive flagship for the line and a potential glimpse into the future styling of the Royal Oak Offshore series.
Only 100 pieces of the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph will be released. While Audemars Piguet has declined to disclose the exact price of the new model, it is expected that the MSRP will be significantly above six figures. For more detailed information, visit the brand's website.