In response the quartz crisis of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Audemars Piguet released the Royal Oak wristwatch in 1972 as the world’s first stainless steel luxury sports watch with fully integrated bracelet. Designed by famed horologer Gerald Genta, it was a model that revolutionized luxury watches with a monobloc case featuring an octagonal bezel secured by eight hexagonal white gold screws. The watch had a distinctly nautical feel, and with the introduction in 1993 of the Royal Oak Offshore, Audemars Piguet sought to update the iconic Royal Oak with a sporty and even more masculine aesthetic. Stephen Urquhart, then managing director of AP, asked designer Emmanuel Gueit to update the model with a larger version in hopes of attracting a younger, more recreational buyer. Gueit retained the Royal Oak classic design, but the original’s 39mm case diameter was enlarged to a 42mm diameter case, which when released, was referred to as the “Beast”. The new Offshore featured a chronograph and calendar mechanism, along with a prominent rubber gasket sandwiched between the bezel and case, and therban – a type of rubber - coated chronograph pushers and screw down crown. These elements enhanced the nautical theme of the Royal Oak model and over the ensuing years it has often been associated with sailing events.

The present watch, featuring a prestigious perpetual calendar and moon phase indication in addition to a chronograph function, remains in excellent, unpolished condition and is offered complete with presentation box and its original guarantee. The grey “petite tapisserie” dial with original luminous hour markers and hands is the essence of the Offshore and makes a wonderful addition to any collection of sports watches. It has a direct historical link back to the original Royal Oak, and is a watch that can be comfortably worn both day and night, at the office or sailing in the Mediterranean during the summertime.