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The Manual Wind: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver Chronograph

By Ian Schwam Jan 20, 2016 10:00 AM

The SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horology) watch show in Geneva is here and so are the watches! The highly anticipated watch show kicks off the year and gives some of the top watch brands in the world the stage for their new pieces. After just one day of the show there are plenty of highlights. However, Audemars Piguet has got the pieces that resemble actual highlighters.

The Audemars Piguet Offshore Diver is a mainstay in the AP family. 42mm in diameter in stainless steel and ceramic, this piece was the simplest in the offshore family. Audemars Piguet has decided to change that for 2016. The Diver is now a chronograph and in bright colors. Added to the time, date, and inner rotating bezel is now ceramic pushers and crown to operate the two register chronograph of the in-house Caliber 3124 movement. This piece is truly different from the inside out. Blue, orange, yellow, and lime green are the colors of the boutique only series. The blue version contrasted with yellow has a matching blue rubber strap and tang buckle. The orange, yellow, and lime are contrasted with black on the dial but truly standout with their bright matching rubber straps.

Watches — Image used with permission by copyright holder

I like this move by Audemars Piguet. The sport watch should be fun to wear. Where as their previous pieces were either black, white, or blue, now AP has an offering so their loyal consumers can put down their Casio G-shocks and put on a real watch with some color. Way back at the start of the offshore line, Audemars made some primary colored versions. They never were wildly successful. Maybe the updated colorful Audemars Piguet Diver Chronograph will prove different. Price not yet released.

Contributing writer and watch enthusiast Ian Schwam dons an expert knowledge of all things watches. Having spent a decade in… Read Full Bio

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