Royal Oak Offshore Ladycat

In today’s world, defining the source of women’s aspirations, desires and ambitions is no easy task. In the 20th century, they had to earn fundamental rights – including that of being able to tell the time on their own. While the latter might seem obvious today, this was in fact a privilege formerly reserved for people of influence, power and wealth.

These days, women regard time as an art of living unbound by any constraints. They have made time-measuring instruments their allies, enabling them to assert their independence and to wordlessly proclaim the essential facets of their personality.

Audemars Piguet has consistently treated women to exceptional instruments designed to project the finest and most appealing image of their femininity. Each watch with its complexities and its distinctive features has consistently mirrored the brand’s desire to enhance feminine charms. The Audemars Piguet archives comprise genuine treasures revealing the modern nature of its approach in opting to specialise in making movements, including extremely small ones, and in the development of horological complications that were integrated into women’s watches at a very early stage. An authentic expert in its art for the past 138 years – an art it has transcended over the decades through its watchmaking creations – the Manufacture is still in the hands of the founding families and still located in Le Brassus, the historical cradle of Fine Watchmaking in Switzerland.

The feminine models presented at the 2013 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Genève all reflect the spirit of independence cherished by the brand, along with its taste for elegance. Whether new models from the Royal Oak collection in selfwinding or quartz versions, others enriched with a chronograph function such as the Royal Oak Offshore Ladycat, or the classically designed gemset Jules Audemars models, Audemars Piguet watches brilliantly display their ability to adapt to the temperament, the situation and the desires of the women wearing them.

THE NEW ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE LADY CAT CHRONOGRAPH IS QUITE OBVIOUSLY INTENDED FOR SPORTY WOMEN, AS WELL AS FOR ALL THOSE WHO LIKE POWERFUL AND GRAPHICALLY DESIGNED WATCHES CAPABLE  OF ACCENTUATING THEIR DYNAMIC NATURE.

The two models, bearing the colours of the racing catamaran sponsored by the Manufacture from Le Brassus, come in steel and white gold versions respectively issued in 150-piece and 10-piece limited editions. Their dials harmoniously associate the new boat colours  : black, gold, and green – with the latter featured on the subdial hand. The back displays the Ladycat logo, celebrating the only boat in this sailing category competing with a woman at the helm.

The white gold version of the Royal Oak Offshore Ladycat, with its black mother-of-pearl dial counters, is adorned with a gemset bezel, case and folding clasp totalling 323 diamonds (approx. 5.82 carats). The black rubber strap provides a perfect foil for the sparkle of the gems, which are as ever chosen by Audemars Piguet from among the highest-quality stones. The steel variation is equally appealing with its pure lines accentuated by the brilliant-pavé bezel and the likewise gemset studs that merge smoothly into the strap.

The sturdy 37 mm case houses a mechanical selfwinding movement capable of measuring short times over a 12-hour period, on demand and as often as required. Efficient, accurate and finished in keeping with the finest traditions, this mechanical heart has a 40-hour power reserve and is automatically rewound by its owner’s wrist movements. Representing a further token of the Manufacture’s determination to cultivate luxury right through to the smallest details, this intensely feminine chronograph is equipped with an 18-carat gold oscillating weight.

Water-resistant to 5 bars, the superlative Royal Oak Offshore Ladycat Chronographs clearly establish themselves as the ideal watch for women looking to assert their taste for challenges.