A stainless steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak automatic wristwatch. This is a very rare ladies size version of an evolution of Gerald Genta's sporting watch icon. This model is a move away from the classic Royal Oak. This iteration was named the "Offshore". the model was launched in 1993 to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the original Royal Oak, and to boster flagging sales, to quite the public reaction....It was given the moniker; The "sea elephant" and the "beast"! This was in part de to its 42mm size and much thicker profile. The watch was designed by Emanuel Gueit and was hated by the Royal Oak's original iconic designer; Gerald Genta!. Gueit, when describing his design cues from creating the watch is on record as saying not just that he wanted to; "Create something young men would want to wear" but also something "so big that no woman would want to wear it".  It is therefore a little ironic that these wonderful smaller, playful and colourful versions would appear three years later!

These smaller case versions would come out three years after this mixed launch of the Offshore in an attempt to open the audience to women.  The model 79290 and this, the 77151 in this 30mm case.  What is quite special about these models is that they came with the Audemars Piguet caliber 2140 automatic movement. As opposed to the 28mm watches that were all powered y the AP quartz 2610 caliber.

The dials on these watches are also interesting. Aside from the colour variations they also have a mix of texture and smooth finishing. The dial on Royal Oak watches are their crowning glory and perhaps the most desirable feature of an already cool watch! It is the ‘Petite Tapisserie' found on the first Royal Oak Jumbos. They are laborious to make with the brass dials being engraved by a burin, a precision metalwork chisel, that reproduces the motif on a disc attached to the machine, like a pantograph. A pointer rotates across the disc from the periphery to the center. The system is combined with a tool that forms the little lozenges between the pyramidal squares and takes between 20 and 50 minutes, depending on the dial's diameter. It's a delicate operation. A mere skip is all it takes to damage the piece as the slightest impact is as visible as dust on a mirror. For this technique to be applied to these smallest of case sizes is quite remarkable.

This model includes the date located at the three o’clock position.  The AP logo is cut from white gold and pinned to the dial at the twelve o’clock position, along with the Tritium filled hour markers. These dials are very complicated and exceptionally expensive to create.

The watch is powered by the automatic caliber 2140 AP movement.  This is a thin, four millimeter thick, thirty one jewel, movement with 21 carat gold rotor, with the movement's balance wheel oscillating 28,800 vibrations per hour, vph, and having a power reserve of forty two hours.  It was adapted from the Jaeger LeCoultre caliber 960.  It was introduced by AP in 1996, and remained in use until 2012.  A super, high quality and very reliable watch movement.

After celebrating its 50th birthday last year, the Royal Oak, along with the Patek Philippe Nautilus, both designed by Gérald Genta, are now the most iconic ‘sports’ watches ever designed. These watches were launched in the following dial variations; purple, green, brown, blue, and this the orange.  They came in both stainless steel, and a very small number in precious metal. Of all units produced 85% were in steel. They were produced in very limited numbers with only 241 units being sold from 1997 until 2005 in all colours.

The watch is sold on an original green AP band with steel deployant buckle, which opens from the middle, like the larger size case bracelets, and is numbered 46 on the back, and serial number D85XXX. The condition is preowned, but unpolished and excellent throughout, which is how these watches must be maintained. Polishing them ruins all the original, intricate case angles.  

This is a great watch to wear. Very rare in itself, very few examples being produced by AP. Although a smaller size, it wear very well, and is perfect for those looking for a smaller take on the sporting icon for summer. 

This example dates to circa 1998.  It does not come with the box or original paper work. The service history us unknown, but presented in working order with a Foundwell one year warranty.