Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver

For us (and probably for many other people), the Royal Oak is the most iconic model from Audemars Piguet, and the reasons for this are countless. Beginning its journey in the 1970s, thanks to the deft hand of Gérald Genta, this series has undergone numerous editions, but a few things have never changed – the octagonal case, the “waffle” dial, the design of the lugs, etc. In 2012, the brand decided to respond to the modern trend and produce its first “true” diver's watch. And although we doubt how many of these timepieces were used for their intended purpose, the model enjoyed considerable success. Initially, the model was offered only in the version with a black dial – so as not to dilute the focus of the customer base. There are several innovations by the brand in this model – first, is the use of a second crown to operate the inner bezel; second, is the standard buckle (for the first time in the ROO series); and third, the double hour marker at “12 o’clock” (for the first time since the original ROO in 1972). In 2015, its updated version was released – with the transparent case back, and along with it, a version with a silver dial was also launched. Two years later, several variants in, to put it mildly, “fresh colors” and the chronograph version were launched. As most of you probably know, the so-called “classic” ROO models such as the 15300 and 15400 are powered by the brand's in-house movement, Calibre 3120 – this model possesses the same “heart”. Operating at the usual for AP frequency of 21,600 vibrations, with 278 parts, 40 jewels, over 60 hours of power reserve, and to emphasize the noble origin of the movement, the balance is crafted from 22-karat gold.