AP Royal Oak Offshore Jarno Trulli Chronograph

Audemars Piquet is celebrating its 135th Anniversary this year and in line with this celebration, Audemars Piquet has launched the limited edition Royal Oak Offshore Jarno Trulli. This watch, a limited edition run of only 500 pieces, will initially be available from the Audemars Piguet Boutique in Ginza, Japan followed by a international release at the end of the year. Emm, I did not find the boutique.... The watch is expected to retail for USD 28,900.

The watch, reference 26202AU.OO.D002CA.01, will be powered by AP calibre 3126/3840, an automatic 13 ¼ ligne movement. The movement has 59 jewels and is made up of 365 parts. It offers a power reserve of 60 hours and beats at 3 Hz or 21,600 vibrations per hour.

It is a beautiful movement that is decorated with circular graining on the mainplate, and rhodium-plated, chamfered and snailed bridges with Cotes de Geneve motif. The movement will also feature a 22-carat gold rotor with anthracite gray galvanic coating. All these can be seen through the sapphire crystal display back.

Photographs: Audemars Piquet

The movement is cased in a forged carbon middle case with a Cermet bezel. The titanium crown and chronograph pushers will be sandblasted. The case back is made of titanium and will carry the inscription Royal Oak Offshore Limited Edition – Jarno Trulli.  The case is 42 mm in diameter and 15.65 mm thick offering a water resistance rating of 10 ATM.

Cermet is a unique alloy made by combining ceramic and tungsten or bronze. Cermet offers superior wear and corrosion properties.

What I like about the watch is the dial with the “Mega Tapisserie” motif and the silver chronograph sub-dial. The hour markers and the hands are coated with a red/purple luminescent coating. The watch offers the following functions: hours, minutes, seconds (sub-dial), chronograph and date complication. I have to say that the watch is one of the nicest ever made: sporty but elegant and very smart, a rare example of pure lines & long-lasting design.

Sadly I feel that AP has one too many limited edition watches. What makes it worst is that my favourite brand seems to be following in the same footstep. Sigh.