An Audemars Piguet design classic goes over to the dark side
The Royal Oak Offshore self-winding chronograph watch has been rethought in black
Seventeen years after the release of Gérald Genta’s iconic Royal Oak watch for Audemars Piguet in 1970, designer Emmanuel Gueit rethought its elegant proportions in sketches that conjured up a more generously proportioned, bulkier model. On its eventual release in 1993, the Royal Oak Offshore – nicknamed ‘The Beast’ – spoke to a younger generation that delighted in its robust form. Since then, the Royal Oak Offshore has become a watch design classic in its own right, with multiple iterations in materials ranging from titanium and forged carbon to steel and gold.
Now, for the first time and to mark the Offshore’s 30th anniversary, Audemars Piguet unveils the first Offshore watch in black ceramic, complete with matching bracelet and patterned dial. The sleek pitch black is broken up by bold white Arabic numerals and alternating polished and satin finishing, which adds depth while staying faithful to signature Audemars Piguet design codes.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Hannah Silver is the Art, Culture, Watches & Jewellery Editor of Wallpaper*. Since joining in 2019, she has overseen offbeat design trends and in-depth profiles, and written extensively across the worlds of culture and luxury. She enjoys meeting artists and designers, viewing exhibitions and conducting interviews on her frequent travels.
-
Clocking on: the bedside analogue timepieces that won’t alarm your aesthetic
We track down the only tick-tocks that matter, nine traditional alarm clocks that tell the time with minimum fuss and maximum visual impact
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Architecture, sculpture and materials: female Lithuanian artists are celebrated in Nîmes
The Carré d'Art in Nîmes, France, spotlights the work of Aleksandra Kasuba and Marija Olšauskaitė, as part of a nationwide celebration of Lithuanian culture
By Will Jennings Published
-
‘There is more work to be done in the garden’: Dries Van Noten on deciding to grow his burgeoning beauty line
For Dries Van Noten, 2024 has been a landmark year. After stepping down from fashion in June, the designer speaks to Wallpaper* about a new focus on nurturing the brand’s beauty line and spending more time in his beloved garden
By Hannah Tindle Published