Description

Audemars Piguet introduced the Royal Oak Offshore line in 1993 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the original Royal Oak. This mighty task was given to Emmanuel Gueit, a designer who was just 22 years old!

The approach of the design was that of a deconstructed Royal Oak, featuring a 42mm case making it the first super-sized luxury sports watch and earning it the nickname ‘The Beast’.

It not only earned a nickname, but also the disappointment of the purists, and the wrath of Gerald Genta who was so upset during the launch at Baselworld 1993, that he apparently stormed the booth shouting that his Royal Oak had been completely destroyed. But then, when the original Royal Oak was launched 20 years earlier, it was received with similar reactions. And as the original, the Off Shore too destined for great success, spawning many different special editions often manufactured in limited numbers. One such rare and sought after Off Shore is the T3 Terminator Black edition made in 1999 for Arnold Schwarzenegger and featured in his movie ‘End of Days’.

In 2002, the Royal Oak Concept was introduced, a technical marvel at the time, and then in 2012 AP launched the first high-complication Off Shore with a minute repeater, splits second chronograph and a perpetual calendar.

Audemars Piguet – bio

Audemars Piguet is a Swiss manufacturer of mechanical watches founded in 1875. They began in the Vallée de Joux. Jules Louis Audemars formed a partnership with Edward Auguste Piguet. Audemars created complicated blank watch movements for other manufactures to use. Piguet specialized in the final regulation of watches. They then split responsibilities when they began their own company. Audemars was in charge of production and technical aspects while Piguet focused on sales and management. One of their first achievements was creating the first repeater wristwatch in 1892 and in 1972 the iconic steel “Royal Oak”.