SIHH 2013 Preview…3 pieces, $741,000 per…

Here’s a first look at a new piece that will be launched officially in Geneva at SIHH 2013:  the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication.  The Royal Oak Offshore was born in 1993 as a sportier extension of the model designed two decades earlier by watch designing icon Gérald Genta.  This model with its minute repeater, split-second chronograph and perpetual calendar complications is the first Royal Oak Offshore to be designated as a grande complication.  Just three pieces will be made which is not surprising for such a highly complicated watch.   The price tag will easily run into the six-figures, if not more.  More details and looks, on the jump>>>

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Titanium Grand Complication

Limited edition 3 pieces

$741,600 per piece

Ref. 26571IO.OO.A002CA.01

The watch has a 44mm titanium, black ceramic bezel, crown and chrono pushpieces.  Inside is the 648-part manufacture caliber 2885 with minute repeater, rattrapante (split seconds) chronograph and perpetual calendar functions (previously used in pieces such as this).   The Grande Complication movement features hand-finished cut-out parts (polished bevels, beadblasted, matt surface underneath) and hand-finished bridges (rounded-off and polished bevels, satin-brushed flanks, circular-grained recesses).  To reveal the exceptional nature of this model, the parts composing this exceptional art are partially visible through the transparent sapphire dial and by a fitted exhibition back.

The watchmakers have clearly chosen to give this model an overall contemporary look, as evidenced by the choice of case and bezel materials, and also the solid gold oscillating weight which I am told is black-coated (sorry no pic right now).  As well I find the font choice for the subdials to be not only of a contemporary nature but highly legible and quite attractive.  Lucky is the man who owns a watch such as this!

Here is a look a the Audemars Piguet Caliber 2885, seen both through the caseback of the watch and standalone: