Life In Colour

A beefy classic gets a fun update.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

A beefy classic gets a fun update. 

Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Offshore design has been popular for so long that we’re sure collectors will appreciate new variations. Well, the brand recently released three boutique-exclusive watches.

Two have been given vibrant bezels, crowns and pushers in blue (above) or green ceramic, with a matching shade applied to smoky effect on the Mega Tapisserie patterned dial. The colours also continue onto the grooved rubber straps. The third reference has a bezel and push-piece guards crafted in pink gold and is paired with a smoky grey dial and black rubber strap. All have black ceramic cases.

Aside from the burst of colours and smoked dials, these 44mm references are particularly eye-catching for their large, lume-filled Arabic numerals. Previous 44mm versions of the watch typically came with applied baton indices. Arabic numerals were usually reserved for the 42mm models. 

However, there are no surprises under the hood. The watches are powered by the familiar calibre 3126/3840, which offers 50 hours of power reserve and runs at 3Hz. While it is an in-house movement, it’s a modular one stacked with a Dubois Depraz chronograph mechanism. 

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WIND YOUR MANNERS

The Kingsman Agency film series has so far been fun and slick, and we expect its latest instalment, The King’s Man, to be no different when it hits the big screen this month. Right on time is the handsome new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Kingsman Knife. Commissioned by the film's team and designed in collaboration with Mr Porter, which made the purchase of key costume-to-collection apparel from the first two films possible, this takes a wristwatch worn in the franchise in a new direction. 

As The King’s Man is a prequel set in the 1900s, the brand took inspiration from its 1907 Couteau (French for knife) pocket watch. Everything about the Master Ultra Thin Kingsman Knife conveys old-world elegance – from its 4.25mm thickness and triangular bow atop the 12 o’clock crown to railroad minutes track and blued leaf-shaped hands. Only 100 were made and these were made available exclusively for pre-order through Mr Porter. Following that, the remaining models will be available through Jaeger-LeCoultre’s e-store and selected authorised dealers. The price tag: US$29,800 (S$40,862).

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SPEEDING TO THE SEA

In the 20 years that Omega has lent its support to America’s Cup, all but one commemorative model were Seamaster editions. Speedy fans who wished there were more watches in the vein of the 2017 Speedmaster X-33 Regatta Emirates Team New Zealand limited edition will be pleased to know that Omega’s second sailing watch for this year is the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon Alinghi. Made in partnership with the Swiss sailing team Alinghi, this chronograph was inspired by the team’s catamaran. Laser ablation gives the mainplate and barrel bridge a honeycomb effect similar to the interior of the boat’s hull. The subdial at 3 o’clock provides a tactical time display while the one at 6 o’clock features the Alinghi logo.

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BRIGHT NOW

Your travel plans to pearly sands and clear, salty water may have been put on hold but this doesn’t mean you can’t dress the part. Besides, when holidaying becomes safe again you’ll want your wardrobe – and watch winder – at the ready. For the latter, consider the Hublot Big Bang Unico Sky Blue. The summery, lightweight 45mm case is the result of Hublot’s extensive research into creating brightly coloured ceramics. Inside it beats the self-winding manufacture Unico movement with flyback chronograph and column wheel. The matching white and sky blue rubber strap is topped with white fabric for peak resort vibes.