Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore
AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE
When Audemars Piguet unveiled the Royal Oak in 1972, it revolutionized the brand, reshaping the concept of luxury. The Royal Oak not only pushed the boundaries of design but also established Audemars Piguet as one of the leading forces in the watchmaking world. Initially met with a slow reception, the Royal Oak soon gained immense popularity, becoming a coveted timepiece. By the late 1980s, however, Audemars Piguet recognized the need for another bold innovation to continue driving their legacy forward.
With the 20th anniversary of the Royal Oak approaching, it presented the perfect opportunity to introduce a new model to the public. Emmanuel Gueit, one of Audemars Piguet’s designers, observed a growing trend of women wearing men’s watches. Inspired by this development, he saw the need for a more masculine design in men’s watches.
This insight inspired Gueit to create a bolder version of the Royal Oak. In 1989, he unveiled a larger 42mm model. The new design was met with mixed reactions from upper management at Audemars Piguet, and due to manufacturing challenges resulting from its unique design, the watch wasn’t released until 1993—one year after the Royal Oak's 20th anniversary.
The term “Offshore” was deliberately left off the first 100 watches. This cautious approach allowed Audemars Piguet the flexibility to abandon the model if it failed to gain traction, reserving the “Offshore” name for a potential future collection. However, starting with watch #101, “Royal Oak Offshore” was fully spelled out. The first reference, 25721ST, earned the nickname “the Beast” due to its large case size and officially introduced the Royal Oak Offshore to the world.
Although the Royal Oak Offshore would eventually become one of the brand’s most iconic models, its sales initially started off slow. However, the watch gained popularity over the years, largely due to endorsements from notable figures.
The first endorsement came in 1997 from Italian alpine skier Alberto Tomba. By that time, the Royal Oak Offshore had already gained significant popularity in Italy, accounting for 23% of the entire collection’s sales within its first three years. However, Tomba’s endorsement gave the model the boost it needed to further cement its status as an iconic timepiece.
The next major endorsement came in 1999 from movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger, who wore the Royal Oak Offshore in the film End of Days. Audemars Piguet created a special edition of the watch, known as the Royal Oak Offshore “End of Days,” specifically for Schwarzenegger to wear in the action-horror movie.
In the 2000s, the Royal Oak Offshore gained immense popularity as numerous celebrities and athletes, including LeBron James and Jay-Z, began wearing it, cementing its status as a cultural icon.
Initially met with skepticism, the Royal Oak Offshore has become one of, if not the, most iconic models in Audemars Piguet’s catalog. Today, over forty different Offshore models are available for sale, offering a diverse range of options for everyone.
We currently have four pre-owned Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore models in stock:
Pre-owned 42mm Royal Oak Offshore Green 15710ST
Pre-owned 42mm Royal Oak Offshore Orange 15710ST
Pre-owned 42mm Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph White Dial 25721ST
Pre-owned Royal Oak Offshore Diver Scuba Boutique Red & Black Dial 15701ST
