Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Watches

Audemars Piguet has unveiled the next official watch of the 18th edition of the classic Tour Auto car rally, the Royal Oak Offshore Tour Auto 2009 Chronograph marks the fourth time the brand has had the honor of acting as the Official Timekeeper of the Tour Auto. the Tour Auto was first launched in 1992 and is reminiscent of the "Tour de France Automobile". The tour covers almost 2,000 kilometers and is divided into five stages beginning in Paris. The previous watches Audemars has created for the event are the Jules Audemars Tour Auto for 2006, the Royal Oak Tour Auto for 2007 and the Royal Oak Offshore Tour Auto Chronograph for 2008. This year's Tour Auto 2009 Chronograph will be available in a limited edition of just 100 pieces.The Royal Oak Offshore Tour Auto 2009 Chronograph has a 42 millimeter titanium case with a rubber bezel. The Screw-lock crown and push pieces are produced in a beauitful red rubber which matches the chronograph sub dials. The case-back is engraved with the Tour Auto logo and bearing the inscription Royal Oak Offshore. The dial features an exclusive "Mega-Tapisserie" decorative motif in black and has the contrasting red chronograph counters with luminescent hour-markers as well as luminescent white gold hour and inute hands. The reference number is 26278IK.GG.D002CA.01 and it has a self-winding movement caliber 2326/2840 with a 38 hour power reserve. The case is placed on a black rubber strap with a AP folding clasp crafted from shot-peened titanium. The Royal Oak Offshore Tour Auto 2009 Chronograph is water resistant to 100 meters.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph (Ref. 26550AU.OO.A002CA.01)Audemars Piguet has updated its last year`s Royal Oak Offshore tourbillon chronograph watch with a more subdued version, which is going to be sold as a Ref. 26550AU.OO.A002CA.01 model.If you compare both models, you will see that the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph Ref. 26550AU.OO.A002CA.01 retained the basic shapes of the last year’s version, but now offers a different combination of materials and a more “standard” layout of the dial.The case is now made of forged carbon, which is accented with glossy black ceramic bezel, as well as crown and chronograph push-pieces made of the same scratch-resistant material.While sporting the same diameter of 44 millimeters, it is now about two millimeters thinner, measuring only 14 mm in height.The weight reduction comes courtesy of the new AP Caliber 2897 automatic movement.Being 31.40 mm in diameter, it is only 7.75 mm high, which makes it 2.92 mm thinner than the AP 2912 hand-wound caliber that powered the Ref. 26288OF.OO.D002CR.01 model.According to the Swiss brand, the movement is built on 34 jewels and comprises 335 hand-decorated components. Beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour, the movement offers a more than adequate power reserve of 65 hours.Although the previous version of the watch looked a lot more impressive than the new one, the 2011 MY model offers in return greatly increased legibility and even makes it possible to wear the watch with a formal dress.As you can see on the pictures, the watch is equipped with a black waffle “Mega Tapisserie” patterned dial with a pair of white sub-dials (a small seconds display at 9 o’clock and a 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock,) and a tourbillon escapement at 6 o’clock.The facetted hour and minute hands, as well as applied hour markers, are made of white gold and feature generous amounts of luminescent substance.As usual, the watch will be supplied on a black rubber strap, which is adorned with two grooves and is secured with a titanium pin buckle.No info on pricing yet.