|
In 1875, Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet decided to start making complicated watches by common efforts. For more than 100 years Audemars Piguet has been keeping the status of leader at the watch market, traditionally setting a pace for watchmaking. “Royal Oak Offshore”, a future watch trendsetter at the world watch market, became the first collection of company.
 The “Royal Oak Offshore Gstaad Classic 2009 Limited Edition” collection was presented in 2009. The main accent of this collection was the use of titanium. This model case is made of titanium; its diameter is 42 mm. The watch is made with many original details, which differs “Royal Oak Offshore Gstaad Classic 2009 Limited Edition” from other watches of “Offshore” collection. The upper button of chronograph is adorned with red rubber, and the leather natural strap – with red stitches. The back case is engraved with “Gstaad Classic 2009”.
The model has much in common with other Offshore chronographs. Its dial is made in “Royal Oak” classic traditions – in octahedral shape, used in collection of 1972. The watch bezel is decorated with natural leather and fastened with hexagonal screws. The case is waterproof. Its water resistance makes up 100 meters.
The “Royal Oak Offshore Gstaad Classic 2009 Limited Edition” model is based on self-winding caliber ÀÐ 2326/2840, with balance frequency of 28.000 alterations per hour. The power reserve makes up 38 hours. The edition is limited by 50 pieces.
“Royal Oak Pride Of Russia Limited Edition”
The limited series of “Royal Oak” collection are a tribute to Russia from Audemars Piguet. According to the creators of “Royal Oak Pride Of Russia Limited Edition”, particularly to CEO George-Henri Meylan, it is an attempt to understand a great country, starting from Europe and ending at 50 miles from Northern America. The biggest impression for Henri, as he says, was not only the largest territory of Russia, but also its great culture.
The “RoyalOak Pride Of Russia Limited Edition” model is called the most luxury and quality accessory of “Royal Oak” collection today. The collection is limited by 250 pieces, 50 of which are made with white gold cases and blue dials, and 200 models – with pink gold cases and silver dials.
The idea of “Royal Oak” creation belongs to the head of “AP” representatives in Northern America, Francois Henry Bennahmias. He offered to create such watches because the Russians especially love a combination of quality and luxury. The world opening night of “Royal Oak Pride Of Russia Limited Edition” was in New York, “Rasputin” nightclub, in December, 9.
The “RoyalOak Pride Of Russia Limited Edition” model is based on the famous Royal Oak chronograph, which was specially improved for the “Russian” version. Its own self-winding caliber of 2226/2840 chronograph was replaced by 2326/2840 number for this model. The crown and the chronograph buttons are finished with rubber; the back case is engraved with double eagle – Russian emblem, which has become the country’s symbol in 1497 under Ivan III, after his marriage with Sophia, the niece of Byzantine imperator Constantine.
Double eagle, looking at east and west at the same time, symbolizes a dominant position of Russia in Asia and Europe. George the Victorious appeared at the emblem thanks to Ivan the Terrible; under Peter I the emblem was added with image of golden chain at the chest of eagle and three crowns, united with ribbons, that became a brotherhood symbol for Russians, Belarusian and Ukrainians.
Audemars Piguet reproduced the emblem of Russia at the “Royal Oak Pride Of Russia Limited Edition” model in interpretation of unknown Swiss artist, who made the order in XVIII century. You can buy or order “Royal Oak Pride Of Russia Limited Edition” in one of six brand boutiques of the company. This model comes with a patent black box with inside finishing with chamois, and the box cover is engraved with double eagle.
The watches are released in honor of boutique opening in Moscow, at Kuznetsky bridge. “Royal Oak Pride Of Russia Limited Edition” is a luxury gift for Russian fans.
“Royal Oak Pride Of Russia Limited Edition” in case of white gold (ref. 26061 BC) and in case of pink gold (ref. 26061 OR) of 18 carat. The strap is made of black or blue crocodile leather, the buckle is made of pink or white gold. The water resistance makes up 30 meters.
 “Royal Oak Offshore Jay-Z 10th Anniversary Limited Edition”
A famous hip-hop performer and fan of Audemars Piguet brand, Jay-Z started the collaboration with famous company ten years ago. To mark the tenth anniversary of collaboration between company and rapper, the guests gathered in famous hotel in New York – “Four Seasons”. In honor of that event AP launched a collection of wrist watches de-luxe, symbolizing a connection between AP and music industry.
The watch series with limited edition of 100 pieces will be available only at brand boutique in New York.
The “Royal Oak Offshore Jay-Z 10th Anniversary Limited Edition” will be limited by 100 pieces. The watches are issued in 3 versions: 50 models will be made of stainless steel (23.500$), 30 models will be made of gold (43.900$) and 20 models – of platinum (69.500$).
Each model is engraved with “Royal Oak Offshore Jay-Z 10th Anniversary” on case and with “Limited Edition” around the bottom and with inscription “Jay-Z” at the center of back case.
The difference between this model and others from “Offshore” collection is that the “10” number at dial disk will be made of diamonds. The platinum models will be provided with blue straps of natural crocodile leather, and the models of stainless steel and pink gold will be equipped with elegant black leather straps, made of crocodile leather.
Jay-Z has been collection watches since 1997; his first meeting with the president of Audemars Piguet Francois-Henri was about five years ago. The work over the “Royal Oak Offshore Jay-Z 10th Anniversary Limited Edition” collection took about two years. A part of each model sale income will be allotted to “S. Carter Scholarship Fund”, a noncommercial organization founded by Jay-Z himself and his mother Gloria Carter. At present Jay-Z is the president and general director of “Def Jam Recordings” and “Roc-A-Fella Records”.
“Royal Oak Offshore Don Ramon de la Cruz”
In honor of new boutique opening in Madrid, Audemars Piguet released two watch collections with limited edition: for men and women. The men collection is limited with 100 pieces, the women’s – with 50 models. Each model of “Royal Oak Offshore Don Ramon de la Cruz” is made of 18-carat pink gold. The straps are made with the use of leather and rubber.
The men watches are made with the use of luminescent matter “Superluminova” at the dial disk, and the women’s – with the use of diamonds at the dial disk and bezel.
The wrist watches “Audemars Piguet Don Ramon Offshore” are provided with self-winding movement ÀÐ 3126/3840, the power reserve is 60 hours. The balance frequency makes up 21.600 alterations per hour.
You may not believe it, but before that collection was released, the “Royal Oak” watches were provided with caliber ÀÐ 2326, based on JLC 889/2 with additional module of chronograph. Such mechanisms were used by IWC, Daniel Roth and many other brands, which didn’t make “Piguet” watches exclusive at all.
A new generation of AP – “Royal Oak Offshore” – is provided with its own movement – caliber 3126/3840, which is more accurate than JLC 889/2 and which power reserve is one and a half times more than that of previous movements.
These watches are «inborn» chronographs, a specific feature of which is quick adjustment of date, stopwatch and massive rotor, made çà 22-carat gold.
The men collection is made in sport style of average size with 48-mm case, crafted in 18-carat pink gold, and water resistance of 100 meters. The women collection is made with cases of 37-mm diameter and water resistance of 50 meters.
 Both collections are adorned with red and brown dials, made in Tapisserie style, and brown leather strap, made of crocodile leather with roll-up clamp, made of pink fold. Some of women models are made with mother-of-pearl dials, decorated with diamonds at “1”, “2”, “4”, “5”, “7”, “8”, “10”, “11”.
“Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Survivor”
On 10th of December, 2009, the company presented a new collection, which will be limited. This model is designed for those who prefer active way of life. The “Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Survivor” model is crafted in patent titanium, strong and very light material. The “Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Survivor” watches are the first from “Royal Oak” collection, which chronograph button are protected form stray stroke. This exclusive collection is issued by a limited number of 1000 pieces.
“Millenary Limited Edition Platinum Watch Is Museum Piece”
In July, 2009, AP released a watch collection with a limited edition of only 20 timepieces. The main accent of that model was an oval platinum case of 47 mm size. The platinum case perfectly matches with black strap of alligator leather and skeletonized disks of blue and silver dial.
 “Royal Oak Offshore Pride of Mexico special edition”
These watches are a special release of Audemars Piguet for 200th anniversary of liberty of Mexico. The watch case of 42x14.7 mm size is available with 18-carat gold and titanium.
The main details of dial are made of the Mexican flag colors with green Arab numerals, white disks and red central second hand. “Royal Oak Offshore Pride of Mexico special edition” is provided with caliber ÀÐ 2326/2840 with chronograph, 38 hours of power reserve and 100 meters of water resistance.
|
