The Audermars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph

The watch utilizes brand new movement based on self-winding Calibre 2897, equipped with a tourbillon and a chronograph. The movement is entirely developed and produced by Audemars Piguet, manually assembled from 335 individual components, and bounteously decorated.

The immediately recognizable octagonal case, fitted with eight steel hexagonal screws on the bezel, is crafted in forged carbon. The bezel is made from black ceramic and the strap from black rubber. Forged carbon is material often used in aeronautics, and Audemars Piguet was the first manufacture to start using this extremely light material in fine watchmaking. The ceramic, on the other hand, is possibly the perfect material for the bezel, since it is highly resistant and completely scratch-proof.



As the rest of the Royal Oak Offshore collection for 2011, the new Royal Oak Offshore Self-winding Tourbillon Chronograph features the “Méga Tapisserie” motif on the dial, composed of straight parallel lines and taut shapes.

The tourbillon with its blackened titanium bridge is visible through a dial cut-out at 6 o’clock. Tourbilion is defying the effects gravity canceling out its disturbing effects on the movement’s most sensitive organs – the balance and spring assembly and the escapement. This delicate horological complication is composed of 85 parts and requires almost three days of assembling by the most experienced watchmakers. The assembling of the whole movement takes over 15 days.



The watch includes standard hours and minutes functions, small seconds at 9 o'clock, and a chronograph with central sweep-seconds hand, and 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock. Tachometric scale is engraved on the flange. Completed with black rubber strap adorned with two grooves, the watch closes with a titanium pin buckle.

Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph, Reference 26550AU.OO.A002CA.01