Audemars Piguet Serves Royal Oak Offshores With Royal Pop-Style Sprinkles
One thing is for sure: the members of the Audemars Piguet design team don’t suffer from chromophobia, the intense, irrational fear of or aversion to colors. You will find plenty of proof of that in the current lineup. The three Royal Oak Offshores with Royal Pop-style sprinkles that AP serves are an addition to the brand’s kaleidoscopic collection. But no matter how fresh and cool these three vivid 42mm ROO Selfwinding Chronographs look, I can’t seem to get the eight Audemars Piguet × Swatch Royal Pops out of my head, especially the pink Otg Roz with flourishes of bright yellow and tropical turquoise. These colors also appear on one of the three new ROOs. Is this watch the grown-up’s version?
Audemars Piguet is turning up the heat this summer with three new 42mm Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph models in a splash of colors. The ROO platform is perfect for this since it’s flexible, like a pro athlete. The ROO is one of the most recognizable modern sports watches, and since its debut in 1993, it has gone through different stages in life. The first version, nicknamed “The Beast” for its imposing dimensions and exposed rubber gasket, was not particularly colorful. But designer Emmanuel Gueit did push the boundaries of what a luxury sports watch could be. More than three decades later, the collection is exuberant, edgy, and colorful. Recently, AP launched three multichromatic Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Diver models, and these latest chronograph references turned the color up even further. In particular, the one that combines yellow and turquoise stands out.
Audemars Piguet serves Royal Oak Offshores with Royal Pop-style sprinkles
To be honest, I don’t want to think about the Audemars Piguet × Swatch Royal Pop too much. I already pondered Swatch’s relevance recently in light of the most recent big collaboration. But when I see the same colors used in the collaboration pop up on one of the three new 42mm Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph references, I can’t help but think about the pink Otg Roz with its similar use of sunny yellow and exotic turquoise. How did the gray-dial reference 26238TI.OO.A001VE.01 with these expressive color details come to life? Was it created by someone who was also involved in the design process of the Royal Pop and felt inspired? Was it a Swatch or an AP designer? It will probably remain a mystery.
All three new ROO models feature the familiar Méga Tapisserie dial with large Arabic numerals, enlivened by bright accents inspired by offshore racing machinery, the source of inspiration for the watch in the 1990s. The trio displays a newly designed tachymeter scale, and the chronograph counters at 9 and 12 o’clock introduce flashes of pink, turquoise, yellow, or orange, depending on the reference.
The colors pack a visual punch, but they also serve a purpose: they draw attention to the chronograph indications, including the central hands and the rubber-coated start/stop pusher at 2 o’clock. It’s a functionality that very few buyers will ever practically enjoy, but that’s the case with most of today’s luxury chronographs.
Dress code: “Casual purposeful”
The three chronographs follow the dress code “casual purposeful,” just like so many people naturally do without knowing during the summer. Shorts, a polo shirt, boat shoes, sunglasses, maybe a cap, but certainly a sporty, water-resistant watch that also doesn’t look too ridiculous in a fancy restaurant. The Offshore Diver can pull that off; the three new ROOs do the same and have a bonus — the chronograph, the world’s most popular complication among men. There’s nothing like a few extra dials, hands, and pushers for some. And AP made sure these extras stand out.
The model with its gray dial and turquoise and yellow accents has a 42 × 55 × 15.3mm case in titanium. The reference 26238ST.OO.A001VE.02 pairs a black dial with pink details in a stainless steel case. Meanwhile, the third version, the stainless steel reference 26238ST.OO.A001VE.01, takes a slightly more monochromatic approach, with a silver-toned dial brightened by energetic orange highlights. The colors continue with a textured calfskin strap featuring contrast stitching that matches the respective color schemes. If you think a rubber strap in a specific color is a better fit, the watches feature a quick-change system for easy swapping.
Facts, figures, and a final thought
Powering the new automatic ROO chronographs is caliber 4404, Audemars Piguet’s in-house integrated flyback chronograph movement that debuted in 2019 when the Code 11.59 collection launched. It features a column wheel with a vertical clutch for crisp actuation and smooth chronograph engagement.
Operating at 4 Hz behind a display case back, the movement, outfitted with an open-worked 22K pink gold rotor, delivers a healthy and steady 70-hour power reserve. The three watches each cost €38,700 / US$42,500 / £33,500 / CHF 33,600, so you pay no surcharge for the titanium version; it’s one of the perks of shopping in Haute Horlogerie territory.
So, are these three new ROOs the rich man’s versions of the Royal Pop? You won’t have to sleep on the street to get one, that’s for sure. For those with deep pockets, an outgoing style, and in need of a watch for the upcoming vacation, one of these loud, sporty, and unapologetically fun watches might just be what they’re looking for. In my hypothetical case, I would go for the one in yellow and turquoise. And I would also get a matching Royal Pop Otg Roz just for fun. Oh my, what is happening to me?!
