Cover credits: Wind Vintage
The world of watchmaking is inextricably linked to the world of racing. There are many iconic watches that have ploughed the circuits and grand galas. To name one, just think of Steve McQueen’s TAG HEUER Monaco and the incredible comeback it has been having in recent years.
I cherish very fond memories related to Formula 1 in the 1990s and early 2000s. The afternoons spent in the armchair with my father watching that red car hurtle by, the jubilation and celebration when it managed to cross the finish line first; the first races seen from the stands of the Autodromo Enzo and Dino Ferrari, the splendor of the Monaco street circuit.
Of all the races, I have memories of a few in particular. One among them is the one featuring the driver with whom Audemars Piguet produced a very famous Royal Oak Offshore. The aforementioned Grand Prix was Austria 2002 which, due to team orders, Rubens Barrichello had to cede first place to his teammate and motor racing legend Michael Schumacher.
I remember my father going on and on about that episode throughout the rest of the season. I’ve always felt a certain interest in characters like the Brazilian, a simple man with strong morals, I’m really glad to be able to talk about him.
Fortunately for you readers, I am closing my long rant and beginning to tell you about the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubens Barrichello, what many believe to be one of the best Royal Oak Offshore ever produced.
Royal Oak Offshore Rubens “Rubinho” Barrichello
In the summer of 2006, the Royal Oak Offshore Rubens Barrichello was unveiled by Audemars Piguet – a shining example of the incredible and futuristic design of the Royal Oak, which was launched back in 1972 (the same year the Brazilian driver was born) and continues to reinvent itself and lay the foundation for what will be the watchmaking of tomorrow.
At its launch, the Offshore Rubens Barrichello timepiece could be purchased in three different editions dictated by three different metal alloys:
1000 pieces in titanium;
500 pieces in yellow gold;
150 pieces in platinum.
The aggressive design of this timepiece is heavily influenced by its collaboration with Brazilian Formula 1 driver Rubens Barrichello. The watch is massive, important and solid, well above its actual 44 mm diameter. The dial is easy to read, a feature shared by all Royal Oak Offshores. The bezel is made of black ceramic, a material that was beginning to take its first steps in the watchmaking world in those years and would soon become a must-have.
The complication buttons, like the bezel, are made of black ceramic and have a very distinctive look reminiscent of automotive air intakes. The crown, like the rest of the watch, has a very strong, mechanical impact. Forgive my confession, it reminds me of that of Ducati’s dry clutches.
The dial, through a mesh weave typical of automobile calanders, gives us a very partial view of the movement that animates this Royal Oak Offshore Rubens Barrichello one of the first to be equipped with the Audemars Piguet caliber 2326/2840 automatic chronograph with a power reserve of about 40 hours.
As mentioned earlier, the reading is very simple and clear: its black background perfectly alternates with the gray of the hands and the white of the registers in turn contrasting and color-calling the indicators.
As mentioned earlier, the reading is very simple and clear: its black background perfectly alternates with the gray of the hands and the white of the registers in turn contrasting and color-calling the indicators.
The platinum version, limited to 150 pieces, features a blue dial and black counter scales.
The gold version, limited to 500 pieces, features a white dial, black registers and white indicators.
The case back is engraved with the Rubens Barrichello logo and the watch serial.
The Rubens Barrichello Offshore was sold with a black leather strap lined with alcantara, a flame-retardant fiber widely used in the automotive world, which was extremely easy to fasten with its beautiful folding buckle and folding clasp.
Two years after it first appeared, a limited series of the Royal Oak Offshore Rubens Barrichello is unveiled at 257 pieces. The ref. 26284RO powered by a Cal. 2326/2840 automatic movement. The watch retains the same proportions but reinvents itself aesthetically with a bright red dial that echoes the stitching on the black leather strap. Bezel and buttons remain in black ceramic going to contrast with the color of the 18-karat gold case.
Autore: Andrea Parodi
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