Testing The Power Of Music With Audemars Piguet’s New Royal Oak Offshore: Decked In The Colours Of Rhythm

Singing an ode to the revered long-standing relationship with the music industry, Audemars Piguet inaugurates its stunning Royal Oak Offshore Models. Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet is ecstatic to introduce five new Royal Oak Offshore references interpreted in 37 and 43 mm sizes and in different materials: two models in titanium, two in gem-set 18-carat white gold, and one in black ceramic.

The Tapisserie dials bear the pattern of an equalizer (or VU meter) as found in recording studios. Hours, minutes, and seconds hands are driven by self-winding movements in these references, the new Caliber 5909 for 37 mm models, and the Caliber 4309 for 43 mm variations. The creative synergies that the Manufacture has been fostering with the music industry for many years are commemorated in these new models with their unique designs.

A Tribute To The World Of Music

Long before time could be read on a dial, such as when bells struck the hour, sound has always been fundamental to the watchmaking process. Since its inception, Audemars Piguet has continuously built connections with the musical community, most notably through acting as a trailblazer in the creation of chiming timepieces. The Royal Oak Offshore line has seen the emergence of multiple partnerships with diverse artists, deriving inspiration from them and in turn influencing them.

Today, the new Royal Oak Offshore models honor this long-standing relationship: a Tapisserie dial reproducing the motifs of an equalizer, jack plus inspired knurled-textured studs, and crown guards evocative of the fader on mixing consoles. A sapphire crystal curved along the 6 to 12 o’clock axis accompanied with enlarged bevels, these self-winding hours, minutes, and seconds models emanate a vivid, pop-style appearance.

Two Diameters In Titanium Both Understated And Robust

The first two titanium Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Music Edition models come in 37 mm and 43 mm diameters to fit a range of wrist sizes. Both have a blue dial as a backdrop for the printed colored VU meter, producing a shimmering contrast. The AP monogram in polished white gold at 12 o'clock and the 18-carat white gold hour-markers and hands with luminous coatings for optimum visibility, especially in the darkness of concert halls, complete the dial.

The 37 mm version adopts the same design cues as the 43 mm editions of the Royal Oak Offshore chronographs as well as its enlarged bevels and curved crystal. There is plenty of room for the colored equalizer motif in the absence of the date window. The timepiece is complemented by an interchangeable blue rubber strap with a "mosaic effect" pattern that matches the color of the dial. This is the first time a 37 mm watch has incorporated the interchangeable strap mechanism the Manufacture debuted on the Royal Oak Offshore line in 2021. Three additional "mosaic effect" rubber straps in turquoise, yellow, and green are included with the model.

A continuation of the models launched in 2021, the 43 mm version comes with a matching
interchangeable blue rubber strap, while three additional turquoise, yellow and green rubber straps are supplied in the presentation box.

Outfitted with a sapphire and titanium caseback inscribed with the words “Limited Edition of 500 Pieces,” these two references offer a distinct view of the self-winding movements powering them.

Harmonious Gem-setting

The new Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Music Edition line also features two white gold 37 mm and 43 mm watches with colored "Harmony"-cut stones set in the dial and bezel. Like the titanium models, both versions have a blue aventurine dial that shows a musical VU meter. Various gems, including rubies, peridots, tsavorites, and green, blue, and orange sapphires, are placed using the invisible setting process to create the ten colors that make up the equalizer's columns. Both references' bezels are embellished with gemstones of a similar color (rubies, tsavorites, yellow, orange, green, and blue sapphires), harmoniously matching the dial's hues.

The "Harmony" cut1 was designed in the industry to bring out the best in exceptionally fine gemstones. Despite the stones' extraordinary fineness (0.65 mm for the dial), the cutting angles of each stone's faceted pavilion have been modified to produce the best reflection while maintaining the most color. Additionally, using this method is able to conceal the grooves essential for the dial's invisible setting, employed to produce a thin effect (maximum 0.85 mm for the dial). The stones adorning the bezel also have the "Harmony" cut, a first for larger stones, to replicate the play of light on the dial.

The 37 mm reference is beautified with 166 stones totaling ~3.7 carats, while the 43 mm variant shines with 230 stones totaling ~6.15 carats. These two references feature the polished AP monogram at 12 o’clock as well as 18-carat white gold hour-markers and hands, like the titanium models. This reference, too, is complete with a ‘mosaic effect’ blue interchangeable strap and comes with three additional turquoise, yellow and green rubber straps.

Black Ceramic And Bright Colors

A 43 mm diameter black ceramic model completes this new series. The titanium crown guards, strap pin buckle, and studs that resemble the jack pattern contrast the watch's monochromatic design.

The equalizer, consisting of 10 different colors and printed onto the Tapisserie motif, contrasts with the understated style of this watch by illuminating the dial and giving it a very modern appearance.

"Limited Edition of 250 Pieces" is etched on the titanium and sapphire caseback, which exposes the hand-finished movement. An interchangeable black rubber strap that matches the color of the case completes this contemporary, high-contrast timepiece. Variations in style, suiting to the wearer’s mood, are possible thanks to three alternative rubber straps in turquoise, yellow, and green.

Two New Self-winding Calibers In The Royal Oak Offshore Collection

These Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Music Edition watches are powered by two self-winding hours, minutes, and seconds movements without the date display to maintain the highlight of the dial's color scheme.

The new Caliber 5909 is installed in the two 37 mm references. A self-winding hour, minutes, and seconds movement has never been incorporated inside this diameter before. Based on Caliber 5900, which made its debut at Audemars Piguet in 2022 on references for the 37 mm Royal Oak watches, Caliber 5909 was created. This movement, which replaces Caliber 3120, has the benefit of being slimmer (3.9 mm as opposed to 4.26 mm) and providing a greater frequency than its forerunner (4 Hz instead of 3 Hz). It also has a 60-hour power reserve.

The most recent self-winding hours, minutes, and seconds movement of this diameter created by the Manufacture, Caliber 4309, is what powers the 43 mm versions. Optimal timekeeping precision is enabled by its generous size with an ideal approximate 70 hours power reserve.

All watches have sapphire case backs that display signature Haute Horlogerie details, including Côtes de Genève, satin-brushing, circular graining, traits tirés, polished chamfers, and the collection's exclusive oscillating weight made of 22-karat pink gold with a black NAC coating.

This new Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Music Edition line accentuates the synergies between the two worlds while endowing the collection with a new colorful aesthetic that will delight music and watchmaking enthusiasts. Did the rhythm get to you?