Two new AP Royal Oak Offshore Chronographs expand the 43mm line through material combinations that privilege ceramic and titanium over precious metals. These additions demonstrate Audemars Piguet's continued investment in the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph as a platform for developing technical materials. Both references employ Calibre 4401, the integrated flyback chronograph movement that replaced modular constructions across the Offshore line in 2021. Hopefully, AP has addressed the known issues with this faulty calibre by now, and all new watches won’t have any further issues moving forward.
Things to Know About the Watches
Both watches measure 43mm in diameter and 14.4mm in thickness, and are equipped with interchangeable rubber straps that coordinate with dial colors: blue rubber with an additional black option for the ceramic variant, and grey-green rubber for the titanium reference.
The new reference 26420CD.OO.A029VE.01 utilizes a "Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50" ceramic—the Manufacture's proprietary deep blue ceramic introduced in 2025—for case, bezel, pushers, and crown. This saturated shade represents Audemars Piguet's response to ceramic's typical limitation to black, white, or grey tones through material science rather than surface treatment. Titanium appears in the case back, crown guards, and bezel screws, providing structural reinforcement while creating tonal contrast against the blue ceramic surfaces.
The dial presents an unexpected pairing: warm beige Méga Tapisserie finishing with chronograph subdials rendered in matching Bleu Nuit ceramic color. This reverses typical chronograph dial logic where subdials create contrast through differentiation. Instead, the beige base provides visual warmth while blue subdials echo case material, integrating dial and case as unified composition. White gold applied hour markers and Royal Oak hands maintain legibility against the beige background, while luminescent coating addresses visibility in reduced light.
Meanwhile, reference 26420IO.OO.A402CA.01 combines a titanium case with a black ceramic bezel, pushers, and crown. The smoked green dial features gradient finishing that transitions from darker periphery to lighter center. Beige and black subdials create layered depth, while the black inner bezel provides chromatic accent.
The Movement
The in-house calibre 4401 delivers 70 hours of power reserve through integrated flyback chronograph architecture with column wheel and vertical clutch. The date window is positioned at 4:30, offset from the subdial centers to maintain dial symmetry. Movement finishing includes angled surfaces, satin-brushed components, and circular graining visible through sapphire case backs.
Summary & Price
The ceramic variant retails for more than the titanium variant, reflecting the material development costs ceramic cases require compared to traditional metals. Pricing for the titanium reference typically positions below ceramic variants while exceeding stainless steel.
These additions reinforce the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph's role as a materials laboratory where Audemars Piguet tests ceramic formulations and titanium treatments before broader collection integration. The Bleu Nuit ceramic continues its development, visible in the perpetual calendar references, while the smoked green dial explores a chromatic territory less common in Le Brassus's sports watch catalog.
Sticker Price USD 63,700 for ceramic and USD 46,600 for titanium. For more info on Audemars Piguet, click here.
