Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak, Offshore, "Bumblebee", wristwatch, chronograph, 42 mm

When it debuted in 1993, it was at the forefront of the emerging “large watch” trend, setting a benchmark in a market that would soon be flooded with imitators. By the late 1990s, the Offshore had reached mainstream popularity, bordering on mania, and as it entered its second decade, AP began introducing significant mechanical, material, and aesthetic enhancements.

With competition heating up—led by Hublot’s Big Bang—Audemars Piguet responded by refining the Offshore with advanced technology and improved craftsmanship. Among these evolutions, the 2009 Royal Oak Offshore Bumblebee stands out as a key model. It served as the vehicle for AP’s full-scale adoption of Forged Carbon case technology in its regular production. While the 2007 Royal Oak Offshore Alinghi Team limited edition was the first to feature Forged Carbon, it was the Bumblebee that truly established the material as a signature of the brand.