Hands On: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph

Before 1972 luxury timepieces were usually small and made out of gold. Until Audemars Piguet broke the rules with the Royal Oak model. That was a luxury, sporty avant-garde style watch made out of steel with octagonal bezel, and integrated bracelet. This powerful look style continues today, becoming a modern chronological icon that upholds the innovation and excellence embodied by Audemars Piguet.

Currently there are 9 models of Royal Oak Chronograph with the case measuring 41 mm in diameter and 11mm in thickness. Seven models come with the metal bracelets, except two models in 18-carat pink gold with hand-stitched alligator strap. The Grande Tapisserie” dial features 3 sub-dials. Two are located 3 and 9 o’clock and a smaller one at 6 o’clock mark. Audemars Piguet made a decision to make sub-dials different sizes and removed arabic numerals from the smaller one, resulting in a cleaner distinction of information between all three registers. The date window is located a little bit to close to a 5 o’clock mark.

The case exhibit Audemars Piguet signature finishing, the long eight-stage process that consist of cutting, sandblasting, lapping, polishing, and varnishing. Looking at a case and dial one cannot notice a new “panda” look, that makes Royal Oak model look even more modern and sportier. Inside of Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph is powered by Caliber 2385, a column wheel chronograph movement with a long history deployed inside AP chronographs.