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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 43mm Stainless Steel
Ref. 26420SO.OO.A029VE.01
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Stepping up in Audemars Piguet's range
Released in 2025 to mark Audemars Piguet's 150th anniversary, this reference revives the "Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50" blue that coloured the original Royal Oak when Gérald Genta drew it in 1972 — a deliberate act of continuity across half a century. The dark blue ceramic bezel sits against a brushed and polished steel case, and the stamped Méga Tapisserie dial carries the same matte depth as the earliest Offshores, while the lighter snailed sub-dials pull the chronograph registers forward without cluttering the face. The 43mm case succeeded a 44mm generation and the difference is felt rather than measured: the lugs curve downward rather than projecting outward, so the 53.5mm reach sits more naturally against the wrist than the numbers suggest, and the dark calfskin strap — swappable without tools via pushers built into the case studs — keeps the ensemble close and unobtrusive. Inside, the Calibre 4401 is the flyback movement AP developed for the Code 11.59, with a column wheel, vertical clutch and 70-hour reserve; its 22-carat gold rotor is visible through the caseback, and the pusher action is notably crisp for a chronograph of this complexity. The white gold hands and hour markers are luminescent, cutting through the dark dial convincingly at low light.
- Reference
- 26420SO.OO.A029VE.01
- Brand
- Audemars Piguet
- Collection
- Royal Oak Offshore
- Case size
- 43mm
- Case thickness
- 14.4mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Octagonal
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 4401
- Functions
- Chronograph, Date, Small seconds, Tachymeter, Skeleton dial
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Blue
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 53.5mm
- Power reserve
- 70 hours
- Strap
- Interchangeable
Learn more about Audemars Piguet
Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet, both from the Vallée de Joux, formalised their partnership in 1875. The valley was then the centre of complicated movement work, and the pair spent their early decades supplying calibres to other houses — Tiffany among them — rather than selling under their own name.
The firm remains privately held by descendants of the founding families, an unusual survival in an industry consolidated into three or four groups.
Its defining moment came in 1972, in the depths of the quartz crisis, when Audemars Piguet released the Royal Oak: a steel watch priced above gold ones, with an octagonal bezel, exposed screws, and an integrated bracelet, drawn by Gérald Genta reportedly overnight. It was widely mocked at launch. It created the luxury sports watch category and now underpins the entire company.
The Royal Oak Offshore of 1993 pushed the same design larger and louder, and drew similar early scepticism before becoming a pillar in its own right. The Code 11.59 collection, introduced in 2019, was the house's attempt to prove it could sell something else — a mixed reception commercially, though the movements inside are serious.
Underneath the modern noise, the complication pedigree is intact: minute repeaters, perpetual calendars, and some of the thinnest tourbillon movements built anywhere.
- 1875
- Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet begin working together.
- 1881
- The firm is registered as Audemars Piguet & Cie.
- 1972
- The Royal Oak launches, inventing the luxury steel sports watch.
- 1993
- The Royal Oak Offshore extends the line.
- 2019
- Code 11.59 debuts as a new collection.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (4,868), Stainless Steel Watches (3,133), Automatic Watches (1,750), Chronograph Watches (1,199), Leather Strap Watches (1,037) and Blue Dial Watches (861).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 70-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 43mm sits at the larger end
- 14.4mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
- Leather does not suit regular contact with water
Also seen with this model (3)
Other versions of this model, not necessarily this exact watch.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 26420SO.OO.A029VE.01 | 326935 | X55AC686 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £37,950 | £36,855 | £32,995 |
| Case size | 43mm | 42mm | 42.5mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 150m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 70 hours | 72 hours | 52 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 70 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 53.5mm, which suits wrists from roughly 18.5cm (7¼ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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