Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore QEII Review

MichaelC · 2014-11-27T11:31:49Z

MichaelC reviews the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore QEII. Explore its tantalum and pink gold case, unique aesthetics, and on-wrist feel.

MichaelC

WPS member · Audemars Piguet forum

36 replies18857 views7 photos

MichaelC shares his initial impressions of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore QEII Cup 2014 Limited Edition, focusing on its unique material combination and aesthetic. He delves into the watch's distinctive use of tantalum and pink gold, offering insights into its design and on-wrist experience.

One new Audemars Piguet watch has been on my radar since it was shown earlier in the year - the QEII Cup 2014 Limited Edition Offshore. I took delivery of it yesterday, somewhat of a surprise, as I had recently been told it would be pushed out a bit further. Nonetheless, wonderful timing to be thankful for.

Starting with a topic we touched on previously, what does a "dive" watch have to do with a horse race? Frankly, nothing. But created as a luxury timepiece by the brand that sponsors the race, I understand the brilliance of this design. I have no personal affiliation or primary interest in horse racing, and my desire to own this watch is simply for the unique appearance and materials it offers.

Tantalum. A chemical element founded in 1802 in Sweden. It has an extremely high melting point and is mostly corrosion resistant. Its unique grey-blue color makes it an interesting choice as a material for a watch case. Used here by AP in conjunction with 18-carat pink gold and grey colors, it makes for an extremely luscious and rich look.

The metal is noticeably darker than titanium. AP's typical brushstrokes in the metal come across a bit subdued with this material. We have seen steel come alive with this high end finish, but the tantalum translates much darker. It is a very unique look and makes it different than other AP watches. The slight tinge of blue is quite complimentary of the pink gold.

Black rubber surrounds the gold crowns at 3 and 10 (the crown at 10 of course serves as the operating mechanism for the inner rotating bezel). We also see black on the inner bezel's minute track between 0 and 15 and as the color of the date disc. Lastly, in another very unique application, the minute hand is coated in black, contrasting with the pink gold hour hand and indices marking each hour.

On the wrist, you understand how heavy tantalum is. In 2007, I held the Royal Oak Offshore Orchard Road and was astounded with its heft. It was a feeling I really enjoyed and one I hoped to someday experience on a regular basis. This QEII watch is fitted with an open caseback, and given the thickness of the Diver's caseback in general, there is definitely a weight savings here in comparison to the Orchard Road Offshore. But this is still a very heavy watch. Some won't like that sensation, but it is safe to say that most will agree you are handling a watch of utter quality with this QEII.

I consider this palette more of a tradition 2-tone scheme, and I have never owned such a watch. We see the paring of other modern materials like ceramic and steel, rubber and titanium, etc. But gold atop of metal can feel somewhat dated. I do not find that the case with this Offshore Diver. It is utterly exciting to wear.

I will surely come back to this watch and offer better photos. A point to capture is the finely finished grey alligator strap. Matt sheen with white stitching; it is the perfect match for the watch.

The one negative to this piece is the supplied buckle. It is brushed titanium. The perfect choice would be 18-carat pink gold. Given the investment one makes when purchasing an Audemars Piguet watch, I would personally prefer to pay a little more up front and have this detail correctly executed. Gold would complete the package which otherwise is superbly executed.

I made a nice discovery to temporarily solve this problem. I have a sand blasted titanium buckle I had purchased and worn when I owned the Jarno Trulli Offshore. It is a much darker tone than the brushed titanium, and closely matches the dial color. It will also allow me to place the brushed buckle on my RB2 Offshore, and that will be a nice detail to complete that piece.

More to follow on this special AP Royal Oak Offshore QEII. For now, a time to be thankful and grateful. I have worked more hours in 2014 than any other year in my life - a certain aspect of developing your own business as I suspect many fellow PuristS know well. I'm not sure I have ever seen a watch as a reward so to speak, but this particular AP does give a great feeling to me.

Key Points from the Discussion

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore QEII is highly regarded as one of the nicest ROO references, praised for its weight, the contrast between the rose gold bezel and dark grey tantalum case, and the beautiful grey leather strap.
Despite its stunning appearance, the significant weight of the tantalum case can be a deterrent for some collectors, especially those with smaller wrists or accustomed to lighter watches.
The author would prefer a solid tantalum caseback over the open caseback with the horse head screening, even though the screening is well-executed, as the watch is primarily a luxury piece rather than a functional dive watch.
The QEII's weight is comparable to a Rose Gold Rubberclad Offshore, and it is noticeably heavier than newer white gold 42mm Offshore models, contributing to a sense of 'utter quality'.
The watch's unique combination of tantalum and pink gold, reversing the typical AP material scheme, creates a striking and luxurious aesthetic that stands out from other models.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore QEII is an interesting piece with a somewhat contradictory identity—a dive watch with a gold bezel commemorating a horse race—yet its unique materials, color, and weight make it a thrilling and luxurious wear.

The Discussion

JavD

Nov 27, 2014

Hi Michael, Congratulations on your new pick up. I received my delivery of this same piece a couple of weeks ago after eyeing it up for quite a while. Its a beautiful watch in the flesh for sure and I totally agree regarding the buckle. Unfortunately the weight is just too much for me and I have decided to sell it on straight away! I havent worn a heavy watch for a while now and I have a small wrist...its a sad one as I really love the look of the watch! Enjoy and wear in the best of health. Reg

dr.kol

Nov 27, 2014

The only issue I do not fully understand is the RG bezel. I have noticed with RO that the bezel is a real scratch magnet and gold is a very soft material. But it looks good. Best and happy Thanksgiving, Kari

Nov 27, 2014

That's a gorgeous piece MichaelC. I love the tantulum. Lugging that around on your wrist will be a first rate workout and have you ready for advanced training on your next visit! M4

emijar3

Nov 27, 2014

The pictures are amazing!! Fits great on your wrist! Hope you post more pictures in the future!

BentN

Nov 28, 2014

Wow! When working hard – I guess you kind of "expecting" being rewarded in some way. WHAT to be rewarded with would be highly individual to each of us, but as we are here discussing in a watch forum – I think a watch is very appropriate :-) This is a superb piece. I have personally been looking at the standard AP Diver numerous times, and even I find it a desirable watch - it IS a little too dark for my preference. I mean black dial...black rubber and so...yes. But of course, a nice watch too fi

amanico

Nov 28, 2014

And for your very well written article. This is typically the Watch you have to see in the flesh before any final comment. I am a big fan of tantalum, so each time I read this word, it strikes some chords to me. ;) Bravo, bravo for all, my friend. Nicolas

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