As our report on the Audemars Piguet 2013 novelties reaches a climax, we turn our attention to the true star of the show, the Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication.  AP's pedigree and experience in making Grande Complication timepieces is unrivalled in the industry.  In fact, the Manufacture Audemars Piguet has produced Grande Complication timepieces continuously since 1882, a claim no other manufacturer can make.

For 2013, AP honors the 20th Anniversary of the Royal Oak Offshore by issuing its first ever Grande Complication in the series.  What better testament to the iconic sports watch than to equip it with the exceptional Calibre 2885 for the first time.  The watch is issued in an ultra limited series of 9 pieces spread across three variations - 3 pieces with a titanium case, black ceramic bezel, black ceramic pushers and crown, black rubber strap; 3 pieces with a titanium case, black ceramic bezel, white ceramic pushers and crown, white rubber strap; and 3 pieces with a 18-carat pink gold case, black ceramic bezel, white ceramic pushers and crown, white rubber strap.

We were privileged to have a showing of the black ceramics / titanium case model.  Before you get excited at thinking you are to soon handle this exceptional wristwatch, you must gain the approval of this imposing AP watchmaker!  As you can see, unauthorized access to this watch will not be permitted...

The box the piece was transported in is gigantic.  I placed my Trulli on top to convey the scale.

Inside, the box also housed an acoustic device for holding the watch while accentuating the minute repeater function.  This is not the box the watch will be delivered in, but rather a transfer box and tool for presenting the timepiece.

The term "Grande Complication" can vary from one company to the next.  For Audemars Piguet, it signifies no less than the combination of a minute repeater, perpetual calendar, and split seconds timing function.

The dial is similar on all three versions, and is made of sapphire.  The 18K cased model gets pink gold detailing around the subdials and hour markers, as well as having pink gold hour and minute hands.

Like other models we have seen with ceramics, the level of finishing is simply awesome.  The brushed areas are very crisp, while the polished beveled sidewall has a mirror like finish.

The minute repeater's striking mechanism sounds on two gongs placed on the same level.

Placed upon the acoustic listening device, the watchmaker activated the complication.  Very beautiful and full sounding.

The caseback features a sapphire crystal, trimmed with a detailed metal ring.  The rotor will look familiar to those used in the 44mm Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph models.  AP's literature states that the weight can be customized by the owner.

Some additional facts about this exceptional watch:
- the Grand Complication movement is entirely openworked and assembled by hand
- AP states it takes 4-6 months to produce a single Grande Complication wristwatch
- the chronograph mechanism utilizes a column wheel
- metallised sapphire moon-phase indicators
- hand-finished cut-out parts (polished bevels, beadblasted, matt surface underneath)
- hand-finished bridges (rounded-off and polished bevels, satin-brushed flanks, circular-grained recesses)

In person, it is simply astonishing to hold this kind of creation in your hands.

Reference numbers for the Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication are:
26571IO.OO.A002CA.01 - titanium case, black ceramic bezel, black ceramic pushers and crown, black rubber strap, 3 pieces
26571IO.OO.A010CA.01 - titanium case, black ceramic bezel, white ceramic pushers and crown, white rubber strap, 3 pieces
26571RO.OO.A010CA.01 - 18-carat pink gold case, black ceramic bezel, white ceramic pushers and crown, white rubber strap, 3 pieces

This message has been edited by MichaelC on 2013-04-25 17:01:58