Audemars Piguet presents a new version of its Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph 42 mm, housed in its first-ever black ceramic case with a matching bracelet and a black Petite Tapisserie dial.
This new Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph marks the collection’s 30th anniversary. It is equipped with Calibre 4404, an integrated chronograph movement with a flyback function.
AP Royal Oak Offshore Black Ceramic
The new reference 26238CE is the first Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore with a case and bracelet made entirely of ceramic. This material is also used for the push-pieces at 2 and 4 o’clock that operate the chronograph, as well as for the screw-locked crown at 3 o’clock.
Only the eight white gold screws attaching the bezel to the case stand out, along with the eight luminescent applied hour-markers that punctuate the hours and the titanium caseback.
The dial is dressed in the same matte black colour as the case, bracelet, push-pieces, bezel and crown. It is decorated with the Petite Tapisserie pattern, a signature motif previously reserved for the 26238 references in gold or titanium.
While past references had variations in tone, this new reference is the first to be totally monochrome in pitch black, which is particularly difficult to achieve due to the different materials and textures used.
To enhance legibility, a wide range of finishings have been developed for this timepiece. Each of the counters is accompanied by a white hand offering a distinct contrast that is further accentuated by a disc of white Arabic numerals.
Similarly, the circular date window (at 3 o’clock) and the three emblematic counters of the Royal Oak Offshore unfold around the two large luminescent hour and minute hands, small seconds at 6 o’clock, chronograph minutes at 9 o’clock and chronograph hours at 12 o’clock.
This layout keeps the famous vertical arrangement of the collection. It also follows the subtle introduction made in 2021 where the hour and small seconds counters were switched to offer a top-to-bottom reading of the elapsed hours and minutes.
The ceramic used on this timepiece has been meticulously finished to reveal its subtleties. Lines, angles and bezels are hand-finished to obtain the alternating polished and satin surfaces that are the Manufacture’s signature style.
Audemars Piguet Calibre 4404
The new integrated automatic chronograph Cal.4404 features a column wheel and flyback function that allows it to be restarted without having to first stop and reset it.
The column wheel has a vertical clutch designed to allow smooth pressure on each push-piece. When the chronograph is started or stopped, the hands immediately start moving, without any delay or unexpected jumps.
A patented reset mechanism also ensures that each chronograph hand instantly returns to its vertical starting position.
The sapphire and titanium caseback allows the wearer to admire the operation of the chronograph’s column wheel below. When the reset push-piece is pressed, the hammers, directed by a lever, strike the central cam to reset the chronograph wheels and set the hands to zero.
The wearer can also admire the 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight that has been engraved with the initials AP, echoing the historic versions of the Royal Oak Offshore.
The movement also features refined finishes such as Côtes de Genève, circular graining, circular satin finishing and polished bevels.
Technical details
Model: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph 42 mm
Reference 26238CE.OO.1300CE.01
Case
Case, push-pieces, push-piece guards and screw-locked crown in black ceramic
Glare-proofed sapphire crystal and titanium sapphire caseback
Case diameter: 42 mm
Case thickness: 15.3 mm
Water resistant to 100 m
Dial
Black dial with Petite Tapisserie pattern, black counters, applied hour-markers, white gold Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating and black inner bezel
Movement
Self-winding Calibre 4404
Total diameter: 32 mm (14 lignes)
Total thickness: 7.95 mm
Number of parts: 433
Number of jewels: 40
Minimum power reserve guaranteed: 70 h
Frequency of balance wheel: 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)
Functions
Flyback chronograph, hours, minutes, small seconds and date
Bracelet
Black ceramic bracelet with titanium AP folding clasp
