From SwissWatchExpo… Spotlight on: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
and Royal Oak Offshore. What’s the difference between these two collections?
When it comes to Audemars Piguet, one watch immediately comes to mind – the octagonal
bezeled Royal Oak.
Launched in 1972, it broke the watch codes of the era; and went on to define the luxury
sport watch genre.
Two decades after, Audemars Piguet once again made a radical move with the larger, louder
and more aggressive take on the Royal Oak – the Royal Oak Offshore.
Designed for sport enthusiasts and the younger set, it was also met with a lot of hesitation;
but turned out to be a great success.
What’s the difference between the Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore -- and which model
should you choose?
Here’s a quick guide to Audemars Piguet’s flagship models.
The history of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is well-documented. During the Quartz crisis
of the 1970s, Swiss watch companies faced tough competition from more accurate and mass
produced quartz watches.
Audemars Piguet knew that they had to make a daring move in order to stay afloat.
They launched the Royal Oak – a sporty yet elegant timepiece unlike anything the watch
world has seen before.
Created by renowned watch designer Gerald Genta, the Royal Oak was a watchmaking pioneer in
many aspects. The use of finished stainless steel, instead
of the usual gold or platinum. A massive 39 millimeter case, which was huge for its time…
The octagonal bezel design, instead of the usual round or rectangular shapes. AND the
integrated bracelet that eschewed the usual lug-and-spring.
The Royal Oak’s approach also defined a whole new category of watches – the stainless
steel luxury sports watch – which inspired countless designs that followed.
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In 1989, Audemars Piguet decided that it was time to bring in a new audience for the brand.
Targeting sport enthusiasts and younger watch collectors, they commissioned designer Emmanuel
Gueit to reimagine the Royal Oak.
After four years of development, the company launched the Royal Oak Offshore – a larger,
louder, and decidedly sportier version of the Royal Oak.
Knowing that it would be disastrous to simply tweak the near perfect design of the Royal
Oak, Gueit went for an overtly sporty, utilitarian, and masculine design.
So what’s the difference between the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, and Royal Oak Offshore -- aside
from their age?
It’s quite easy to spot the difference between the two models – the Royal Oak is more classic
in design, while the Offshore is more robust and sporty. Here are three more aspects to
look at in deciding between the two.
First is the size. The Royal Oak has a 41 millimeter case, while the Royal Oak Offshore
is slightly larger at 42 millimeters.
The Offshore is also much thicker at 14.9 millimeters, compared to the Royal Oak’s
approximately 10.88 millimeter thickness.
Next is the dial design. Both designs have a “waffle” or tapisserie dial, but their
sizes differ.
The Royal Oak features smaller squares called Grande Tapisserie, while the Royal Oak Offshore
sports larger squares, called Mega Tapisserie patterns.
And lastly, we have their chronograph versions.
The Royal Oak’s chronograph sub-dials are located at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions,
while the Offshore’s chronograph sub-dials are placed at 6, 9 and 12 o’clock.
From sleek luxury sports watches, to bold, high-tech and statement pieces, the Audemars
Piguet Royal Oak, and Royal Oak Offshore collection, will have a watch to suit your taste.
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