TonyR provides an exclusive first look at the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver Chronograph, sharing his impressions from an AP event in NYC. His detailed review focuses on the design choices, wearability, and aesthetic appeal of the blue, yellow, and orange dial variants, offering valuable insights for collectors considering this new release.
I had the opportunity to attend an AP event here in NYC last week and as with all AP events that I have ever attended, it was first class all the way. Currently the boutique is in a temp space across the street on 57th so I didn't get many pictures of the inside (it still looks very nice in there btw!) but speaking with Mr. Xavier Nolot the re-modeled space is set to open this September. I am very much looking forward to checking out that update!
What I did want to focus on while I was there is the new AP Diver Chrono. They had 3 out of the 4 versions at the boutique that night. The green dial, which I was told is limited to 50 pieces, was the only piece from this new collection not in attendance....................
As a sucker for both chronographs and divers its pretty much impossible from me to not like this watch. This piece is almost perfect to me and In my estimation AP did two things right with this design. The first being that they kept the case size at 42 mm's which is so much more wearable to most people than a 44mm plus sized watch. Secondly, aside from aesthetics, the other feature I really love is the open display case back which is somewhat uncommon for a diver's watch. All of the watches were covered in plastic wrapping that night so I didn't get a chance to photograph the backs but take my word for it, the movement is beautiful.
My favorite of the 4 new Diver Chronographs was this blue dial version..............
I am a huge fan of the mid to late 2000 versions of IWC's Aquatimers this is the first diving watch since then that gives me the same level of excitement. Being an AP dare I say even more exciting?............
Well I can safely say that I have finally found a diver's watch that has topped those older Aquatimers in my eyes! As I said earlier, it's pretty much a perfect diving watch. The only thing missing for me is a bracelet option. The rubber strap does look great and is comfortable on the wrist................................
I love it as an option to mix up the look of the watch, but It's hard for me to own a Royal Oak with out that masterpiece of a bracelet as an option............
Here are some wrist shots of the two other models in attendance, they are very nice as well and a great way to diversify a collection..............
Speaking with a rep there that night they will have a bracelet available for this watch it just hasn't been confirmed yet. With that being said, I wouldn't be surprised if the 42mm offshore bracelets didn't fit already. I hope you enjoyed the thoughts and photos, the blue dial version has definitely been added to my list!
Tony
This message has been edited by TonyR on 2016-07-24 13:46:38 
