It is a little hard for me to believe that it has been about four years since the launch of the original Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver back in 2010. When we debuted the diver in steel we were excited to not only bring you the very first legitimate diver’s watch by Audemars Piguet, but we loved the new design for the Royal Oak Offshore that offered the spirit of the Offshore collection in a three-hand dial. Later we got a bit more hands-on with the Royal Oak Offshore Diver after enjoying it on a boat with AP – that was a fun time. From there, Audemars Piguet continued to evolve the Diver with new colors and materials.
In 2012, the steel case of the Royal Oak Offshore got supplemented with an Audemars Piguet forged carbon case. This was the “bumblebee” look that went with a similar Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph. In 2013, Audemars Piguet added ceramic to the list of case materials for the Royal Oak Offshore Diver with a black ceramic and orange model. For 2014, we get the Royal Oak Offshore Diver in white ceramic with blue.
Since its debut in 1992, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 7750 Royal Oak Offshore has put all sorts of complications in its own virile, sporty case. The pinnacle of these endeavors surely was the $740,000 Grand Complication (hands-on here), but now we’re taking a look at a more typical-for-AP mix of fine complications: the tourbillon chronograph. Let’s see what this bold, complex-looking thing, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph (surfaced here), needs to offer.When the very first Royal Oak Offshore made it into the market in 1993 with its beefy 42mm case, many observers believed that Audemars Piguet may have missed the mark with its spinoff on the iconic Royal Oak. Some said it was too large for a traditional sports watch… but let’s not overlook that if Gérald Genta introduced the Royal Oak in 1972, the world’s first “luxury sports watch” at a stainless steel case and a price tag well over that of a gold watch, the reaction was similarly conservative. It took time for the market to digest the radical proposal, but after it had been approved, a true success story started to unfold.With its industrial structure and the incorporation of this oversized chronograph pushers shielded with rubber guards, the “ROO” merged its imposing character. The dramatic high tech character and operation of the watch made it (at least seem to be) appropriate for extreme sports, all of the while preserving some of that original, strong, elegant Royal Oak vibe.We have come a long way as the original Royal Oak Offshore, even though, so enough with appearing to the past, and let us see what this high-complication version brings into the table.Audemars Piguet tends not to shy away from introducing and developing new and ever more complicated high-end movements — while they nevertheless appear to take their time in regards to updating their more ubiquitous moves, as testified to by the new ROO Diver Chronograph (hands-on coverage and explanation here).
I’ve never been shy about my love of white watches, so predictably I really like this new more summery ROO Diver in a more light tone. Yes, it is true that white watches look great on women, but that is when they are mixed with more feminine cases. In my opinion, you can tastefully take an otherwise masculine men’s watch, produce it in white, and it will still look very cool. I think over the last few years more and more guys are keen on wearing white watches, and with options like this I can totally understand why. That isn’t to say that all white men’s watches are a success. In 2012, we brought you a hands-on look at an Omega Speedmaster Co-Axial Chronograph in steel and white. Apparently Omega decided never to produce it – that, we think is a shame.
We can certainly assure you that Audemars Piguet will produce this new ref. 15707CB.00.A010CA.01 Royal Oak Offshore Diver’s watch in a stunning white ceramic and titanium case. The white is matte-finished so it isn’t shiny, and the case back is in titanium. Notice anything else different? Don’t worry if you didn’t – you’d need to be a serious AP nerd to see that Audemars Piguet has finally outfitted the Royal Oak Offshore Diver with an exhibition case back. Even though this is a 300 meter water resistant diver, it always irked me that you couldn’t see the movement… and now you can.
