We make no secret that for us, this brand is one of our most beloved, and we always approach every piece we manage to find with thrill and hidden excitement.
For us (and probably for many other people), the Royal Oak is the most iconic model of Audemars Piguet, and the reasons for this are countless. Beginning its journey in the 70s, thanks to the deft hand of Gérald Genta, this series has undergone numerous iterations, but a few things have never changed – the octagonal case, the “waffle” dial, the design of the lugs, and so on and so forth.
In 2005, the Brand decided to respond to the modern trend for larger cases and launched the new series of 42-millimeter chronographs, which also received their now-cult nicknames – Panda, Safari, Navy, Silver Themes, and Black Themes.
In 2011, following the trend for larger cases and sizes, the brand presented the AP ROO 26400 at SIHH. This model automatically became highly sought-after by all admirers of the brand and allowed the manufacturer to permanently establish this case in its range, where it remains to this day.
The model presented today is a special version produced in only 50 pieces in 2021 for the super-elite Ryder Cup golf tournament. The Ryder Cup is one of the most prestigious, contested, and large-scale sporting events in the world, a biennial golf tournament between the teams of Europe and the USA. Unlike most golf tournaments, where players compete individually for prize money, here they play entirely for honor, prestige, and for their continent or country.
The tournament was scheduled to be held in 2020 at the Whistling Straits golf club in Kohler, Wisconsin (USA), but was postponed to the autumn of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The model was created specifically to honor this long-awaited event.
Support for Team USA: Unlike other general golf editions, this particular version of the watch is branded as "Ryder Cup USA". The color palette – a combination of deep blue, bright red, and white on the dial and strap – directly recreates the colors of the American flag and the official kits of Team USA.
As most of you probably know, in the first versions of its Offshore chronographs, AP used caliber 2226/2840 through 2007, when this cult movement was replaced by the new in-house 3126/3840 – a modular chronograph based on the 3120 with a Dubois Depraz chronograph module – operating at the usual AP frequency of 21,600 vibrations, with 365 parts, 59 jewels, and over 50 hours of power reserve. To emphasize the noble origin of the movement, the balance is crafted from 22-karat gold.
