Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43mm Tapisserie

Key Points from the Discussion

• The new Royal Oak Offshore 43mm dial features an 'X' joining each square, which are now vertically brushed, departing from traditional tapisserie patterns.
• The new dial's motion across the surface is reminiscent of the 15202, suggesting a potential shift in design philosophy for the ROO line.
• Concerns were raised about the perceived 'cheapening' of the AP logo, which appears as a decal on a separate plate rather than a cut-out element, potentially indicating cost-cutting measures.
• Some members expressed a broader concern that the high-end watch industry, including AP, is moving towards more industrial, less handmade solutions for basic models, impacting movement finishing and overall quality, despite rising prices.
• The new stamped dials are seen as a method for mass production, with AP also automating some guilloché techniques using computers to replicate hand-guilloché patterns.
• A counterpoint was raised, questioning if a manufacture chronograph movement, as featured in the new ROO 43mm, could truly be considered a 'cheap solution' without a hands-on assessment.
• One collector expressed a desire for the new ROO to be larger, specifically 45.5mm-46mm, indicating a preference for more substantial case sizes within the Offshore collection.