INTRODUCING: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flyback Chronograph & Offshore 43 Flying Tourbillon Flyback Chronograph
Zach BlassAudemars Piguet has modernised its novelties across collections, introducing next generation movements and new technologies into their creations. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Collection is yet another example, with a more ergonomic and refined case as well as an all-new interchangeable strap system. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Collection is comprised of six watches: five flyback chronographs powered by the in-house caliber 4401 that debuted in the Code 11:59 collection and a limited-edition flyback tourbillon of 100 pieces.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flyback Chronographs
Each of the new Audemars Piguet Offshore 43 Flyback Chronograph watches share the same dimensions, with an ergonomic case 43mm in diameter, 14.4mm thick, and 100 metre depth rating. The cases feature a blend of finishes executed by hand. A rich vertical brush is rendered continuously across the front of the case and bezel, with polished bevels to the shoulders of the brushed case inversely tapered from where the strap meets the case. The octagonal facets of the bezels are also mirror polished, whether black ceramic or metal. While the bezels can vary in material, the crown and chronograph pushers are all made of ceramic on each watch in a brushed finish similar to the front side of the bezel.
Each watch is outfitted on dial matching rubber straps that feature Audemars Piguet’s new interchangeable strap system. Two pushers on the underside of the strap detach it from the case, both must be pressed at the same time to successfully detach it. This ensures, like a twin trigger clasp, it does not accidentally pop off during wear. To re-attach a strap you simply push the strap into the case, with a satisfactory audible click signalling it has locked into place. All of the new Audemars Piguet Offshore 43 Flyback Chronographs are bundled with a second strap, which I will elaborate on later below as I briefly run through each configuration.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flyback Chronographs in titanium
The two titanium Audemars Piguet Offshore 43 Flyback Chronograph references leverage blue in their designs. The full titanium case and bezel configuration (with black ceramic screw-down crown and pushers) has a blue inner bezel tachymeter and “Méga Tapisserie” pattern dial with rhodium-toned guilloched registers and outer minutes track. The sub dial hands tied to the chronograph function are red with black bases (seen on the left elapsed minutes register and right elapsed hours register), and the central chronograph second hand is red-tipped. This allows you to easily discern which register is the running seconds sub dial, with a hand rendered entirely in black. The date window at 4:30 matches the blue of the dial, with a white on blue disc.
The grey “Méga Tapisserie” dial and ceramic bezel configuration (with gray ceramic screw down crown and pushers) has contrasting blue guilloched registers that match the blue inner bezel tachymeter. The colour contrast of the hands tied to the chronograph function is more subtle, with the chronograph hands dark grey and the running seconds hand a brighter grey. In this instance the outer minutes track ring, right before the inner bezel tachymeter scale, is not rendered in a contrasting tone. Instead it blends into the grey “Méga Tapisserie” pattern. The date window at 4:30 is also grey, leveraging a white on grey disc that also blends well into the dial. Like the previous watch, the white gold hours and minutes hands, as well as the applied hour markers, are filled with SuperLuminova® for increased visibility in darkness.
In terms of the bundled straps, the full titanium watch is bundled with an additional black rubber strap and the grey dialled configuration is bundled with an additional blue rubber strap.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flyback Chronographs in stainless steel
Both stainless-steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flyback Chronograph configurations have black ceramic bezels, screw-down crowns, and pushers, but very different dial tones. Going from left to right from the image above, the first leverages a black “Méga Tapisserie” dial and inner bezel tachymeter scale with rhodium-toned guilloched registers and outer minutes track. The hands tied to the chronograph function are red tipped, with the running seconds hand rendered in dial matching black. The date window at 4:30 also matches the dial with a white on black disc. The white gold hours and minutes hands and applied hour markers are all filled with white toned SuperLuminova for added visibility in darkness.
On the right, we have arguably the most intriguing dial. It is the only fume dial of the batch, with a smoked taupe “Méga Tapisserie” dial that darkens as you get closer to the black inner bezel tachymeter scale. The sub dials contrast the dial, rendered in black, and guilloched for contrasting texture as well. In this configuration, Audemars Piguet has opted to have the date wheel in white on black – matching the sub dials instead of the larger dial. While the white gold hands are filled with white SuperLuminova®, the white gold applied hour markers look to be filled with black SuperLuminova®. It is an interesting switch-up, but nonetheless serves its purpose for added visibility in darkness.
The black dialled Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flyback Chronograph is bundled with an additional brown calfskin leather strap, while the taupe version is bundled with an additional black rubber strap.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flyback Chronograph in 18K pink gold
The only precious metal Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flyback Chronograph reference introduced is executed in 18K pink gold with a black ceramic bezel, screw-down crown, and pushers. The contrast of the black ceramic elements against the pink gold case creates a rugged sporty elegance like a modern take on two-tone. It has a black “Méga Tapisserie” dial, outer minutes track, and inner bezel tachymeter scale with rhodium-toned guilloched registers. A trend continued throughout, the rhodium-toned registers seem to be paired with red-tipped hands that are tied to the chronograph function. Here, however, we have a running seconds hand made of pink gold. The AP logo, hours, minutes, central chronograph seconds hand, and applied hour markers are all fashioned from pink gold as well – with all the aforementioned, aside from the central chronograph seconds hand and applied AP logo at 12′, filled with white SuperLuminova®. Matching the black dial, at 4:30, is a white on black date disc to display the calendar complication.
Audemars Piguet in-house caliber 4401
Originally introduced in the Code 11:59 chronograph watches, the in-house caliber 4401 has made its way into the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flyback Chronographs. The vertical clutch column wheel chronograph movement, comprised of 381 parts, has a very respectable power reserve of 70 hours. The column wheel results in crisp start/stop/reset actuation and no stutter or jump when the chronograph hand is activated. As a flyback chronograph you are able to reset the chronograph without having to stop the complication first.
Being a more sporty line, the winding mass is made of blackened 22K pink gold. It is exquisitely finished to a very high degree, with “Côtes de Genève,” “traits tirés” and circular graining – all of which are able to be admired through the sapphire caseback. The caseback also reveals components usually hidden from view such as the column wheel and chronograph hammers.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flying Tourbillon Flyback Chronograph
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flying Tourbillon & Flyback Chronograph Limited Edition of 100 pieces is cased in titanium and is 43mm in diameter and 15.5mm thick. While more complicated, it retains the 100 metre depth rating associated with the Offshore line. This titanium case is not as sandblasted where you would typically see brushed surfaces, but the polished surfaces found on the above models remain the same. The screw-down crown and pushers are made of black ceramic, matching the black rubber strap and blackened open-worked dial. At 10′ you have a 30-minute elapsed minutes register, and at 2′ you have a 12 hour elapsed hours register. In favour of a running seconds register we are treated to the full view of the flying tourbillon, with no visible bridge to obstruct the high complication. The watch also features the interchangeable strap system, and is bundled with both brown and beige leather straps in addition to the black rubber.
Inside the watch beneath the sapphire exhibition caseback is the in-house Calibre 2967. It presents a more sporty super-car like aesthetic, redesigned with architectural titanium bridges adorned with black PVD coatings and titanium inserts for a two-tone contrast. The titanium bridges are finished with satin-brushing and hand-polished angles, while the inserts present an alternation of sandblasted and polished surfaces for added visual appeal.
Audemars Piguet have gone the extra mile in regards to the external chamfers of the bridges, which have been meticulously polished to remove the black PVD coating to further create a contrast of colours and textures. The bridges also reveal part of the multi-layered movement’s two-tone components on both sides of the watch. The 22K blackened gold semi-openworked rotor winds the watch while worn, helping maintain its 65 hours of power reserve.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Collection pricing and availability:
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flyback Chronograph in full titanium, Price: CHF 33,300.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flyback Chronographs in titanium and stainless steel with ceramic bezels, Price: CHF 34,500.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flyback Chronograph in 18K Pink Gold, Price: CHF 51,600.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 Flying Tourbillon & Flyback Chronograph, Price: Upon Request, Limited Edition of 100 pcs.
For more information on pricing and availability, head to the Audemars Piguet website for more information
Made in partnership with Audemars Piguet. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.