Since the launch of the Royal Oak Offshore in 1993, Audemars Piguet has added a variety of different materials and colours to the collection. Today, the brand presents two new Royal Oak Offshore Automatic Flying Tourbillon Chronographs. The new models feature a black ceramic case with a skeleton dial embellished with titanium (Ref. 26622CE.OO.D002CA.01) or rose gold (Ref. 26622CE.OO.D002CA.02) elements to create a high-contrast sporty aesthetic, while a flying tourbillon and flyback chronograph are available in limited editions of 50 pieces each.
The case is made of black ceramic, with a diameter of 43 mm and a thickness of 15.5 mm. The black ceramic bezel is vertically brushed and decorated with contrasting steel screws. The screw-down crown, guards and lugs are made of brushed titanium or 18-carat rose gold, and are water-resistant to 100 metres. The anti-reflective sapphire crystal and case back allow a closer look at the skeleton dial and the complicated movement.
In addition to the case, the skeleton dial also takes the two-tone design to the extreme. The skeletonised titanium bridges are hand-brushed and polished with grey or rose gold PVD coating to contrast with the chronograph counters and the flying tourbillon. In addition, the bridge structure stands out against the black PVD titanium inserts.
The bridge below the 12 o'clock position is engraved with the "AP" logo, the 12-hour and 30-minute counters are symmetrically arranged at 3 and 9 o'clock, and the flying tourbillon at 6 o'clock. The white central hand with a 60-second scale on the outer rim keeps a precise time. The titanium version with white gold hour and minute hands in pink gold is inlaid with luminescent material to ensure readability in low light.
The new models are powered by the Caliber 2967 automatic calibre, which beats at a frequency of 21.600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz) and is equipped with a black PVD-coated 22-carat gold oscillating weight engraved with the "AP" logo, offering a power reserve of 65 hours.
Audemars Piguet's new Royal Oak Offshore Self-Winding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph comes with a black rubber strap and a black alligator leather strap with a titanium or 18-carat rose gold folding clasp. Thanks to the all-in-one interchange system, the strap can be easily replaced. (Photo/text: Xu Chaoyang, the home of watches)