The Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet line, essentially a water resistant line of yachting watches, is famous for being the first steel luxury watch ever made. It’s a beautiful pieces, looks great on men and women, and is potentially affordable used. However, in order to follow Bell & Ross and Zenith into the depths of Crazytown they’ve decided to offer this “Survivor” model which looks like a robot took a dump on a turtle.
The case, for example, is crazy:
Strongbox-Type Case with antimagnetic system, cone shaped pushpieces, hollowed pushpiece guards, crown, crown guard and studs in blackened titanium perforated ceramic bezel
Stronbox? Wha? Cones? Studs? What is this – a watch or an S&M bar?
The press release follows but this is being made in a limited edition of 1,000 and thank God, too, because it bastardizes all that the Royal Oak stands for.
Introducing the Royal Oak Offshore “Survivor”
Shapes and ergonomics. Each detail is meticulously designed to ensure a blend
of efficiency and lightness. The perforations on the bezel lighten up the structure without compromising its sturdiness. The hollowed pushpieces equipped with a security look ensure user-friendly handling. In a similar vein, the generous size and notched rim of the crown, as well as the ratcheted case edge, facilitate getting a quick and sure grip on this exceptional instrument. The conical shape of the pushpieces guarantees instant activation of the chronograph function, while the skeleton hands, luminescent hour-markers and silver-coloured small seconds counter guarantee optimal readability by day or night. And finally, since nothing is left to chance, a careful observer will note the apertures on the case middle and studs.SIGNATURE FEATURES
Strongbox-type case water-resistant to 100 metres, with antimagnetic system designed to protect the mechanism from any hostile element. Hexagonal socket-head screws echoing the legendary hexagonal screws of the Royal Oak Offshore models. Exclusive “Méga Tapisserie” guilloché pattern on the dial, matched on this model by the chequered Motif on the strap Strap perfectly integrated with the case.
High-precision Instrument The Royal Oak Offshore Survivor houses the exclusive Audemars Piguet selfwinding Calibre 3126/3840, guaranteeing sturdiness, reliability and precision rating: up to 60-hour power reserve thanks to a mainspring which, by supplying constant force over a longer time-span, ensures enhanced rating accuracy; a cross-through balance-cock reinforcing the stability of the movement; a balance-stop mechanism serving to immobilise the seconds hand and thus enabling time-setting to the nearest second; a variable-inertia balance equipped with eight inertia blocks enabling precise and stable adjustment; fast date correction with an integrated security system avoiding any risk of date disc blockage when the adjustment occurs at midnight; bidirectional automatic winding of the mainspring by means of a 22-carat gold rotor mounted on a ball-bearing mechanism.
HIGH-TECH MATERIALS
Blackened titaniumplays the starring role. This ultra-light material has been chosen for the case and the surrounding elements: studs, pushpieces and pushpiece guards, crown and oversized strap buckle. The same goes for the medallion back featuring a special non-slip texture. Titanium also shows up on the lower part of the octagonal bezel, while its upper part opts for ceramics. The latter is distinguished by clearly marked vertical grooves reminiscent of the characteristic satin finish of the Royal Oak Offshore collection. The strap is made from vulcanised rubber, an indispensable part of the extreme sports universe. Its matt black granular surface accentuates the adventurous camouflage-type look of this chronograph issued in a limited edition of 1,000.
MOVEMENT
Calibre: 3126/3840, Selfwinding
Total Diameter: 26 mm (11 1/2 Lignes)
Thickness: 7.16 mm
59 Jewels
365 Parts
Up to 60-hour power reserve
21,600 VPH
Variable-Inertia Balance with Eight Inertia-Blocks and a flat-spring
Geneva-Type Mobile Balance Spring Stud-Holder
Three Position Winding Crown
Finishing: All parts decorated by hand; Manipulate Rhodium-Plated, Bevelled and Stippled; Bridges Adorned with “Cotes De Geneve” MotifSTRAP
Vulcanized Rubber with Chequered Motifs and oversized buckle in blackened titaniumCASE
Strongbox-Type Case with antimagnetic system, cone shaped pushpieces, hollowed pushpiece guards, crown, crown guard and studs in blackened titanium perforated ceramic bezel
Diameter: 42mm
Thickness: 15.65mm
Water-Resistance: 100m
Medallion back in blackened titanium with non-slip Motif, titanium engraved with the inscription Royal Oak Offshore Survivor- Limited EditionDIAL
Matt black, exclusive “Mega Tapisserie” Guilloche Motif
Snailed Hour-Circle
Luminescent Skeleton Hour and Minute Hands
Luminescent Applied Hour-MarkersFUNCTIONS
Hours and Minutes
Small Seconds
Chronograph with central sweep seconds hand
30-minute and 12-hour counters
Tachometric Scale around the flange
DateREFERENCE
2616510.00A002CA.01
Limited Series of 1,000
That is really interesting to know! I love watches! My husband is not so into watches but I still bought him a beautiful watch for his birthday. I got him a Patek Philippe Watch and he really liked it. I found a website called timeimports and they have hundreds of different watches. My husband was so happy with it, I am glad I decided to get it for him!
That is one of the most absurd ads I’ve ever seen, and contradictory too: doesn’t AP, like every other haute horology company, talk incessantly about their products being hand made? Then why build an ad about a watch being built by robots? Doesn’t make sense to me.
I’m generally not a fan of the ROO line in general, but the simpler, non-limited editions look better to me than their busy counterparts, and the obscene number of limited editions is tiring and seems brand dilutive to me.
Does it come with a blow-torch and Uzi attachment?
I have two Royal Oaks and a Themes Offshore. I have always had great respect for Audemars and held them above Patek until today. I’ve had enough…too much bling, too many compromises and just too many mistakes such as this watch. If I wanted a “New Look” Zenith then I’d buy one and not a Zenith Silliness Sell Out Audemars.
This is a sad day for me and my heart hurts but I shall neither esteem nor buy Audemars any longer.
I got a Royal Oak I’d like to introduce your ass to!
I find it interesting that people who view themselves as watch enthusiasts speak like this… Watches are art… Art, by definition, cannot be judged by any other measure than personal taste. To say that this Picasso is not your cup of tea is a respectable response. But to say that something is ugly simply because it does not speak to me personally is a narrow minded, short sighted and quite frankly stupid response to a piece of art which may not speak to YOU but may very well be someone else’s ideal of beauty.
Look… Personally I am not a fan of the Beatles… They simply don’t do anything for me but I would never be ignorant enough to say that the Beatles “suck” because I don’t like their sound. The Beatles are one of the best song writing teams in the history of modern music regardless of whether or not I am a fan of theirs.
The Survivor is unique and will therefore not appeal to the masses. Most people could not even get away with wearing a watch this powerfully sculpted. Most people would be worn by this watch rather than the other way around. But for someone who has enough individuality, strength of character and individual style this watch may well be ideal.
I suggest that we all voice our “opinions” in a way that doesn’t make us look like narrow minded fools. Say you don’t like it all you want because that is your taste and your right. But do not try to diminish an artists vision simply because his vision isn’t yours… If you don’t like a watch created by one of the world’s very best designers I suggest you either realize that your opinion matters as much or as little as anyone else’s or you stop talking about how they failed and try to create a watch yourself that is “better”. That way the rest of us can sit back and watch you do… NOTHING.
Royal Oak Offshore models by audemars piguet have been creating a buzz since the time they’ve been around. The Dial of this watch is efficiently made. Due to the inclusion of high tech materials, the watch is completely worthy of buying. There are a few online sellers who sell rolex online and other popular brand’s timepieces of genuine quality.