Audemars Piguet - Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger
2011 marks a new milestone in the historic partnership between Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Audemars Piguet, one of the most unique relationships in the watch industry. These two legends have collaborated to create the ultimate collector timepiece, The Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy Chronograph, a perfect blend of strength and control. This is anticipated to be the last watch in the series created by Schwarzenegger and Audemars Piguet.
Celebrating a Decade of Collaboration between Two Icons
The Royal Oak Offshore is the quintessential sports watch, a combination of audacity and performance, character traits that also define Arnold Schwarzenegger the actor, the politician and the man. This limited-edition timepiece, introduced today, is a vibrant tribute to this long-established friendship and like the previous designs in the Royal Oak Offshore portfolio, draws inspiration from Arnold Schwarzenegger's onscreen roles as well as his human values. Like all the timepieces created in close cooperation between Audemars Piguet and Governor Schwarzenegger, the Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy Chronograph is a materspiece of rugged elegance.
Since the collaboration debuted in 1999, the sale of these timepieces has also raised many millions of dollars and brought awareness to After-School All-Stars, a charitable organisation founded in 1992 by Schwarzenegger. The organisation supports programmes for inner city middle school students, developing intensive educational, sports and arts programmes, fostering self-confidence and the youngsters' ability to become independent. The programmes focus on the critical after school hours of 3-6 pm. To date charitable contributions raised from the watches total close to $10 million.
The Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy Chronograph is issued in a 1,500-piece limited edition, each engraved on the back with the inscription Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy. Inspired by the case of the Royal Oak Offshore Arnold All-Stars Chronograph it is the first Audemars Piguet watch to feature an all-ceramic 48-millimeter case middle and bezel. The watch is supplied with an anthracite aramid fibre strap, along with an additional strap in hand-sewn black crocodile leather with large square scales.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Audemars Piguet: The Background Story
This powerful partnership dates to the summer of 1998 when Schwarzenegger, a long-time connoisseur and collector of fine watches, visited Audemars Piguet's headquarters in Le Brassus, Switzerland. Arnold's eye for detail and appreciation of superb craftsmanship mirrored Audemars Piguet's world-class reputation for technological innovation and cuttingedge design. The following year, Schwarzenegger collaborated on the design for the first commemorative timepiece which heralded his film End of Days.
In the years to follow, the relationship expanded with the establishment of an on-going charitable partnership between Audemars Piguet and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who during the partnership became the 38th Governor of California. The fruits of these efforts is an array of limited-edition timepieces which include the introduction of the Jules Audemars Double X Chronograph created for The Sixth Day in 2001 followed by the Royal Oak Offshore T3 Chronograph, inspired by the 2003 film The Terminator 3, and the largest Offshore ever produced; the Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger Chronograph with date and small seconds; a Jules Audemars Chronograph & Perpetual Calendar; and a Jules Audemars Dual Time Power Reserve as well as the Royal Oak Offshore All-Stars Chronograph in 2008. Furthermore, these watches have become highly sought after by collectors and aficionados alike.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: When Truth is Stranger Than Fiction
Like the Royal Oak, Arnold Schwarzenegger is often described in superlatives. The famous politician he has now become has not erased memories of the movie star with the exceptional physique. Conan the Barbarian, the android in Terminator, or the unforgettable Douglas Quaid in Total Recall: while he has certainly played memorable Hollywood roles, Arnold Schwarzenegger is no mere fictional hero. He is a determined individual with a magnetic charisma who has forged his own path from Austria to the United States and is the living embodiment of the American dream. His commitment to give back to the country and the community which have embraced him since he came to the United States in the late 1960s is not only exemplified by his public service as Governor but also in his b charitable commitments epitomised by the relationship with Audemars Piguet."I am thrilled to introduce the Legacy as the latest installment to the collection my friends at AP and I have designed over the years. This watch, like the others is bold and unique, and will raise much needed money for After-School All-Stars." - Arnold Schwarzenegger
Strength is Nothing Without Control
The combination of materials and exceptional level of finishing of the Royal Oak Offshore testifies to the consistent attention lavished on each and every detail. The sheer sophistication of its design makes this watch a showcase of an impressive range of technical know-how.For the very first time in an Audemars Piguet watch, the case middle and bezel are made entirely from black ceramics. The true feat here does not lie in the use of ceramics, since watchmaking has shown an interest in this material for a certain time already, but instead in its level of finishing. In this case a diamond grinding-wheel removes tiny layers of material from the ceramics in order to achieve the same level of detail as on steel, while the process involves a number of different operations that are far more delicate and far more time-consuming. Thus the ceramic case appears to glow in a variety of light conditions and gives off a shimmering high-tech glow. The vertical satin-brushed surface of the case middle creates an attractive contrast with a beadblasted finish applied to its recessed upper and lower sections at 6 and 12 o'clock, generating a depth effect that makes the lugs stand out even more distinctly. The upper surface of the bezel is vertical satin-brushed, while the bevelled sides are polished and shiny.The contrast between black and anthracite is further enhanced by the use of beadblasted titanium, chosen for the screws that punctuate the octagonal bezel, the pushpiece-guards, the two applied inserts on the left side of the case, the back of the watch, as well as the pin buckle of the strap.To add the perfect finishing touch to the range of materials, the applied numerals, as well as the hour-markers at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock are crafted in vertical diamond-polished pink gold; the gold of the pushpieces is adorned with a non-slip gridwork motif echoing the geometrical "Tapisserie" pattern that is a signature feature of Royal Oak Offshore dials. The decorative disc adorning the crown is also in pink gold. Finally, the pushpiece-guards are composed of a rubbermoulded part, to which an additional beadblasted titanium element is secured by a visible screw. Like other Royal Oak Offshore models, the case is embellished on the left-hand side with inserts accentuating its sporting appearance, while the anthracite aramid fibre strap adds a further technical touch to this rugged timepiece. The mechanical movement inside features an equally exceptional level of expertise, and the hand-assembled, finely decorated self-winding movement is equipped with an ultra-efficient chronograph mechanism that measures short times where speed and power are of the essence.
Audemars Piguet & Arnold Schwarzenegger collaboration timeline
1998 Arnold Schwarzenegger visits Audemars Piguet headquarters in Le Brassus, Switzerland
1999 Introduction of Royal Oak Offshore End of Days Chronograph
2000 First Audemars Piguet Time to Give charity auction at Christie's New York to benefit After-School All-Stars
2001 Introduction of Jules Audemars Double X Chronograph created for The Sixth Day
2003 Arnold Schwarzenegger co-hosts the grand opening of Audemars Piguet's NYC flagship
Auction of movie memorabilia and watch prototypes to benefit After-School All-Stars
2003 Introduction of Royal Oak Offshore T3 Chronograph
2004 Introduction of Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger Chronograph
2006 Introduction of Jules Audemars Dual Time power reserve Arnold's All-Stars
2008 Introduction of the Royal Oak Offshore Arnold's All-Stars Chronograph
2009 High Roller Poker Tournament
2010 After-School All-Stars Gala in New York Recognizes François-Henry Bennahmias, CEO of Audemars Piguet (North America) as guest of honour
2011 Collaboration culminates in the Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy
After-School All-Stars
Founded by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1992, After-School All-Stars is a national provider of year-round, school-based, comprehensive after-school programmes that equip children with the skills and experiences needed to become productive members of the 21st century workforce. Every day, children participate in free programmes that include academic support, enrichment opportunities, and health/fitness activities. The organisation's mission is to keep children safe and help them succeed in school and in life. 81,000 children from families of poverty on 453 school sites in twelve U.S. regions benefit from ASAS programmes every day. For more information, visit www.afterschoolallstars.org.
[Rating: 5 / 5 stars]
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