Audemars Piguet Royal Oak : W&W Preview on the Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph (Pics, Specs, and Pricing information…)

Audemars Piguet has unveiled its latest interpretation of the ultimate complicated sports watch, and kick-starts what is sure to be a very interesting Watches & Wonders fair in Hong Kong:

Most of the features in the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph will be familiar to Audemars Piguet connoisseurs, from the model’s eight trademark polished steel screws on the bezel, to the ‘Méga Tapisserie’ motif on the dial. In fact, the new timepiece is the latest evolution of the Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph, introduced in 2010.

Of course, it also introduces features that are less systematic of the brand. One of the most polarizing changes will be the semi-skeletonized dial, which exposes a large gear at 1 o’clock. While Audemars Piguet has many fully skeletonized dials in its collections, the semi-skeleton dial is not as tried and tested. But it adds a quality of movement to the dial as the gear moves while the rotor spins around it, and Audemars Piguet seems to know this will be a popular feature, since it highlighted the rotor by placing it underneath a transparent ring.

Meanwhile, the tourbillon contained within the Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph is one of the most modern interpretations of its kind, and comes with a blackened, titanium bridge. The rest of the watch is made with the same sprit in mind.

The powerful case middle is constructed from forged carbon – a material that Audemars Piguet introduced in the original Royal Oak Offshore back in 2007, that was also used in the Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph in 2010. Overall, this looks like the sportiest and most rugged Royal Oak Offshore of the year.

Inside, the Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph is just as interesting. The timepiece comes with a novel winding system when combined with a tourbillon and chronograph. The Calibre 2897 movement was created entirely in-house by Audemars Piguet, and features an automatic winding system driven by a peripheral oscillating weight made from satin-brushed, 950 platinum. This allows for a better view of the movement, since the weights of selfwinding calibers usually block it.

The Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph will be launched at the Watches & Wonders fair in Hong Kong, and will be produced in a numbered series of 50 pieces, priced at $273,200.

For more, please visit Audemars Piguet.