Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore is the Swiss brand's sports collection, introduced in 1993. Designer Emmanuel Gueit took Gérald Genta's octagonal Royal Oak and made it larger and more muscular. The crown was protected by guards, and the gaskets became visible around the case outline. Its 42 mm diameter, unusual at the time, earned the newcomer the nickname “The Beast”.

The generations are easiest to tell apart by their movements. The early chronographs use calibre 2226/2840 with a Dubois-Dépraz chronograph module. These include the Rubber Clad with a vulcanised rubber bezel, the Arnold Schwarzenegger in yellow gold and the Juan Pablo Montoya in platinum with a carbon bezel. The next generation received calibre 3126/3840 — the in-house 3120 base with a chronograph module. It powers the Michael Schumacher, Ryder Cup, Survivor, the Camo and Camouflage models and the 48 mm chronograph honouring Shaquille O'Neal. The Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph 43 mm uses the manufacture calibre 4401, an integrated flyback chronograph with column wheel, vertical clutch and a 70-hour power reserve. The 42 mm steel Selfwinding Chronograph received calibre 4404 of the same design.

Among the non-chronograph models are the Royal Oak Offshore Diver 42mm and the three-hand Royal Oak Offshore 43mm with calibre 4302 and a 70-hour power reserve. In a class of its own is the chronograph with tourbillon on the hand-wound calibre AP 2889, the Royal Oak Chronograph Tourbillon Limited Edition.

Generation, material and size are the main criteria. The Royal Oak Offshore has been made in stainless steel, including PVD/DLC-coated versions, as well as titanium, pink, yellow and white gold, platinum, ceramic and carbon. The bezel can be ceramic, rubber or carbon, and on the titanium Michael Schumacher it is cermet. Sizes range from 37 to 48 mm. Most men's models have a dial with the large Méga Tapisserie pattern, while women's chronographs have the classic Tapisserie. Dial colours include black, grey, blue, brown and white. Straps are most often rubber, with leather straps and bracelets also available.

The pieces covered here are men's and women's models produced between 2003 and 2026.