zelin0802 / May 4, 2023

pop culture icons who marked their era

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Royal Oak Offshore was the catalyst for a new trend in big, cool sports watches

Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Offshore When it came out in 1993, the Royal Oak Offshore was oversized, sporty, durable yet refined, and at the time not fully understood by people. Watch enthusiasts thought it was a monster, calling it “The Beast”. Even the famous designer of the Royal Oak, Gérald Genta, called it the “Walrus”. But it was the 1990s, an era of big and bold, and the model found its tribe among a new generation of young consumers who loved a standout aesthetic.

Pop Culture
For those too young to remember the 1990s, it was an explosive time in pop culture. As advances in digital recording equipment allowed artists to create music in entirely new ways, the music world witnessed a period of creative and inspiring new sounds, including new genres such as alternative music, ska punk, rap and hip-hop. Hip-hop style also found its way into fashion through oversized pants, hoodies, paramilitary boots, and snap caps. Jurassic Park was the most popular movie of 1993, and dinosaur toys are on every kid’s gift list. Auto sales have surged as pickup trucks became the best-selling vehicle in the United States. Essentially, big is cool!

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore
Dierk Wettengel, Audemars Piguet’s German agent, started the trend by asking the manufacturer for a new trend-setting model for the offshore regattas of the 1990s. Designer Emmanuel Gueit set out on a mission to reinvent the Royal Oak, increasing the case size from 39mm to 42mm, adding thick gaskets, a crown trimmed with colored rubber, and round links and studs.

wrong start
The watch was supposed to be released on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Royal Oak, but its oversized size was not internally approved and its release was postponed until the following year. However, waiting did not temper the response. “The scandal it caused when it was released was matched by its excess,” explains Raphaël Ballestra, Heritage and Archives Manager at Audemars Piguet. “But if the watchmaking world is outraged, young people will embrace it. Despite a rocky start, Offshore was a huge success and was very popular in the 2000s”.

yacht racing
From the sponsorship of motor sailing events such as the World Offshore Sailing Championships and the Audemars Piguet Cup, to the support of sailing teams such as the Alinghi America’s Cup and the Ladycat All-Women’s Sailing Team, Royal Oak Offshore has been intimate with yacht competitions for many years. Linked together, it reinforces its sporty character.

celebrity ambassador
Royal Oak Offshore is also credited with starting the industry-wide celebrity association trend, starting with famous movie stars, bodybuilders and future California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. A fan of Audemars Piguet, Schwarzenegger visited the Manufacture in Le Brassus in 1997. Two years later, he collaborated with the brand on a limited-edition collection titled Royal Oak Offshore Model Doomsday to celebrate his film of the same name. Over the next few years, the model sparked many productions with the actor limited edition. replica watches online

Since then, many celebrities in sports and entertainment have been linked to Offshore, including musician Jay-Z, basketball stars LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal, and tennis champion Serena Williams.

30th anniversary celebration
This year, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the series, the Manufacture launched three new Offshore models – a 43mm Royal Oak Offshore Automatic Chronograph in black ceramic and 18-carat gold, a 42mm Royal Oak Offshore The Onshore Automatic Chronograph in black ceramic with a small Tapisserie dial, and the all-black ceramic Royal Oak Offshore Automatic Flying Tourbillon Chronograph with green accents.

Thirty years is a long time for a timepiece to stay cool, but the Royal Oak Offshore hasn’t looked back since it took off, constantly evolving new movements, materials, designs and finishes. With these new releases, its future seems to have more sails. buy luxury replica watches