Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Safari II 26470ST Luxury Watch Review

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The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Safari is back. Well, it never really left the catalog, but the 2014 sequel to the 2007 smash hit "Themes" variant ups the ante in every way.

For 2014, Audemars Piguet redesigned the entire 42mm Royal Oak Offshore lineup. The Safari received special attention. Its signature honey-brown hornback alligator strap and savannah-grass dial tone remain, but the watch has been transformed from a gazelle to a lion in the process.

AP massaged the Offshore's mega tapisserie dial to afford the intricate pattern a more pronounced appearance. The new metallic cream color truly jumps with 3D effect, and the newly darkened sundials add visual punch to the once monotone Safari. Audemars Piguet added upscale metal chapter rings to the sundials, a high-contrast black date wheel, and a bronze-brown tachymeter scale to complete the makeover.

At the periphery of the case, AP upgraded the Safari's chronograph pushers and winding crown make the jump from silicone polymer to scratch-proof ceramic. The famous hornback alligator strap, an Offshore icon that made its series debut on the original Safari in 2007, returns in glory with a new pin buckle strap. The former deployant clasp often challenged owners to find a precise fit, so AP added the pin buckle system from the time-only Offshore Diver line to satisfy popular demand.

Inside the case, an Audemars Piguet caliber 3126/3840 keeps time, but the 2014 Offshore is the first 42mm model to receive a sapphire display case back. Although the AP in-house movement debuted in the original Safari, Royal Oak Offshore enthusiasts had to wait seven years to appreciate it firsthand. The wait is over; flip this Safari II and enjoy the fruits of Le Brassus' labors.

Having debuted at SIHH in January of 2014, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Safari II is nearly unheard-of on the open market, and thewatchbox.com is proud to offer this reborn classic with full Audemars Piguet factory packaging, manuals, paperwork, and accessories.

If you liked the Safari as a gazelle, you'll love it as a lion. See the new Royal Oak Offshore Safari II 26470ST in high resolution images on www.watcuwant.com. Video and content by Tim Mosso.