Description
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Ref. 25940 needs no introduction. It stands as one of the defining watches in modern horology, celebrated for introducing rubber as a principal material in luxury watchmaking. In fact, it was the second high-end timepiece ever to feature a rubber strap, following Hublot’s pioneering MDM Genève.
While many assume that the octagonal bezel of this 2002 model is made entirely of rubber, it is in fact a metal bezel coated in rubber — a distinctive innovation that merged durability, comfort, and design. The example presented here dates to 2006 and belongs to the first generation of the collection, recognizable by its cleaner, more minimalist appearance: no applied frames around the subdials or numerals, and a white date disc. The first generation remained in production from 2002 to 2012, followed by a second generation produced from 2012 until late 2013. For a brief period, Audemars Piguet introduced a transitional model, the Ref. 26178OK, before discontinuing the line later that same year. This reference features a 42 mm pink gold case, accompanied by a grey “Méga Tapisserie” dial with baton hands, Arabic numerals, and three black counters — a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, a 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock, and small seconds at 12 o’clock — along with a date aperture at 3 o’clock. The iconic octagonal bezel with exposed screws, a hallmark of the Royal Oak Offshore, reinforces its bold and instantly recognizable character.
Inside beats the self-winding in-house Calibre 2326/2840, while a black rubber strap with an AP-signed pink gold folding clasp completes the ensemble. This Royal Oak Offshore Ref. 25940OK is offered full set.