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FRANCAISHistorically, the Royal Oak Offshore is the largest of the large. Disproportionate? Gigantic? When it was first introduced in 1992, some even went so far as to claim it was an insult to good taste. It proved to be a pioneer! Its design echoed the vigorous shape of the Royal Oak, the famous octagon that in 1972 had shaken up the peaceful scene of classic round watches. But 20 years later, the Royal Oak Offshore was even sturdier and more masculine. It set the trend for large-sized watches that has continued ever since. Today, the Royal Oak Offshore collection is reaffirming its supremacy, since the case of the new threesome measures a full 44 millimetres.
In each of the three versions, the case is composed of two materials. Ceramics is associated with steel for the first, with forged carbon in the second, and with pink gold for the third. Forged carbon is a material borrowed from the field of aeronautics and which the Manufacture Audemars Piguet was the first to introduce into the world of fine watchmaking. The choice of ceramics for the bezel – the part most exposed to shocks and thus to scratches – is due to its extreme resistance and hardness. The level of finishing applied to this material deserves a mention, because although this material is currently much in favour in the watch industry, rarely is it finished with such meticulous care. Diamond-coated grinding wheels remove hundredths of a millimetre layers of material in order to achieve the same fine details one can achieve, but the process requires a large number of operations that are far more delicate and time-consuming.
The contrasting materials serve to underscore the stature of the 44 millimetre case middles. With their surface featuring a vertical satin-brushed finish and their polished chamfers, the ceramic bezels accentuate the strong character of the octagonal shape, which is punctuated by its eight polished steel hexagonal screws in keeping with the signature codes of the collection. It is instantly recognizable, repeatedly imitated, but as yet unequalled! The right-hand side of the watch has been the object of particular care. The pushpieceguards are not part of the case, but are instead composed of two separate parts secured to the case by four visible screws. The pushpieces are composed of two parts: a base and a top that serves as a contact surface. The construction is thus highly complex and calls for a large number of operations, especially since the parts feature a wide variety of finishes. The pushpiece-guards are beadblasted and satin-brushed, while the pushpieces are beadblasted and feature a satin-brushed and polished top. These models thus 2 involve far more than just a change of size. The entire aesthetic of the case has been reworked. The clear-cut edges define a chronograph with taut, sculptured lines radiating self-assurance, efficiency and extreme technical sophistication.
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