Audemars Piguet - Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph LeBron James
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The story of LeBron James' career begins in Akron, Ohio. Straight from high school, he was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 and set a record (for most points scored by a prep-to-pro player in his first game) right at the outset, scoring 25 points. He was to go on to become, while with the team, a two time All-Star Game MVP winner, and rapidly becoming known for his incredible combination of sheer physical power and remarkable agility. He has three Olympic medals to his credit as well - a bronze in 2004 and a gold in 2008 and 2012. His controversial move to the Miami's basketball team in 2010 put him under enormous public scrutiny and pressure.
But ultimately, the experience proved transformative for LeBron by reinforcing the spirit of teamwork and positive experience on the court that had always been at the heart of his ability to play at the top of his game. In 2012 and 2013, he led the Miami team to back-to-back NBA championships. He was also chosen twice as the NBA Finals MVP and helped lead the American Olympic Basketball "Dream Team" to a gold medal. This is the second time in the history of the game that a player has been an NBA Champion, MVP, and Olympic Gold Medalist.
LeBron is also known as the founder of the LeBron James Family Foundation. "This initiative with third graders, back in my hometown in Ohio, has the ambition to help them graduate from high school", says LeBron.
The Royal Oak Offshore descended from the Royal Oak and has gone on to become one of the most sought after sports watches ever made. The decision to collaborate with Audemars Piguet on the creation of a limited edition of 600 pieces is a natural result of LeBron's elegant personal style, and the combination of unabashed masculinity and bold design that's been the hallmark of the Royal Oak Offshore since it first debuted twenty years ago.
The 18k pink gold case lends an air of luxurious richness while at the same time underscoring the geometry of the case, and is set off by the cool, almost silken sheen of the titanium bezel. The rich combination of pink gold and grey metal is further underscored by the grey "Mega Tapisserie" dial, with its pink gold applied Arabic numerals and pink gold hands. A further discreet touch of luxury is the single diamond set into the chronograph pushpiece at two o'clock with both pushers, as well as the crown, made in black ceramic.
The selection of grey as a color for the hand-stitched crocodile strap is an unusual choice as well, giving this powerfully proportioned, 44mm timepiece an urban feel that was important in satisfying LeBron's vision of this Limited Edition as an exercise in both masculinity and elegance. LeBron's signature is printed in blue on the sapphire crystal display back, through which the 22 carat, partially openworked oscillating weight for the lavishly decorated, self-winding chronograph calibre 3126/3840 is visible.
" I love the strap - we talked about a lot of possibilities and I thought grey would be the perfect color. At first you really don't think pink gold and grey will work together, but when you match it up with this watch and this style, it's a perfect combination."