![]() For the 25th anniversary of the ROO, the brand revisited the chronograph version (Ref. 25721 ST) quickly earned the nickname “The Beast” and was met with radically divided opinions. Making its debut at Baselworld 1993, the 250-gram steel chronograph (Ref. This might seem conventional practice these days, but back then it was radical. Not only that, but rubber was also used for the chronograph pushers and the crown. The ROO was an oversized, high-testosterone version of the Royal Oak, a colossal 42mm watch (huge dimensions in 1993) bristling with textures and bold combinations of materials. Launched at baselworld 1993, just after the 20 th anniversary of the iconic Royal Oak – the iconic Gerald Genta creation that defined the concept of the luxury sports watch – the Royal Oak Offshore was as daring and defiant a proposal as the Royal Oak had been in 1972. For this hands-on session, we had the bold black and blue ceramic model and the luxurious black ceramic and 18k pink gold version. The real novelties of the trilogy were the incorporation of XXL Arabic numerals and smoked dials, a big trend in watchmaking today. Nothing radically new in that field since models with ceramic cases and other materials have been the mainstay of this ROO 44mm collection. In June 2020, the brand from Le Brassus introduced three new Royal Oak Offshore 44mm chronographs in black ceramic cases with bold contrasting materials accentuating its solid, angular architecture. And it’s not just size we’re referring to here but the aura of virility and strength transmitted by the dynamic architecture of the watch. The occasional mistaken compliment for owning the latest “50th anniversary” Royal Oak was just some playful icing on the cake.The Royal Oak Offshore has always been considered a watch for men who are not afraid of making a (big) statement. At 10.8mm thick, it truly gave most watches in its price range and complication a run for their money and makes the wearing experience so much more manageable despite its relatively wide wrist presence.Īll in all, this hidden gem within the Royal Oak line up has been a joy to wear and experience. The closed case back blocks visibility of the movement but I did not really mind that if it shaved off a few millimeters from its thickness. It’s 41mm size makes it near impossible for anyone with wrist sizes less than 6.5 inches (thats pushing it already) to not be overwhelmed by its case dimensions when it sits flat on the wrist. So much so I feel that this was more of a dress watch rather than a sports piece. However the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 26320ST still suffers from the same issues plaguing the series, terrible scratch magnet with its multiple polished facets which made me be extra aware of my surroundings when wearing this piece. To me it was the perfect Royal Oak for my wrist size and with a chronograph complication, it just completes the look of the watch, filling up the emptiness of the dial which I found annoying on the 15500/15510 series. I have always been a fan of AP and what they have done with the Royal Oak line and when I had the opportunity to own my 26320st in blue dial, I literally jumped at the opportunity and have never looked back since. Some watch geek fact about my experience with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 26320ST. As much as this seems like a testement to the 26320’s timeless design that AP got right all those years back, I feel it takes away some of the limelight from this magnificent Royal Oak Chronograph model. ![]() PS: Tell tale sign…look for the AP logo… you are welcome. Not that I blame them, the similarities are plenty and the differences not noticeable unless you know what you are looking for. ![]() “Is that the 50th Anniversary Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph?” That is the most common question I get whenever someone asks me about my Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 26320ST.
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