Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Le Byblos 50th Anniversary

With the release of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Le Byblos, the watchmaker pays homage to the 50th anniversary of Le Byblos. The famous Saint-Tropez hotel is home-away-from-home for the international jet-set and celebrity elite. Spend any summer there and you’ll see plenty of Audemars Piguet watches on the wrists of the clientele. And for the big Le Byblos birthday bash, Audemars Piguet pulled out all the stops to create a stunning pair of Royal Oak Offshore watches. Let’s check them out.

Le Hotel Byblos

Coinciding with the Cannes Film Festival, which celebrated its 70th anniversary this year, Audemars Piguet launched a limited edition Royal Oak Offshore to honor the 50th anniversary of the Hotel Le Byblos. An iconic landmark on the Côte d’Azure, Le Byblos is a favorite venue for the international jet-set crowd. The likes of Brigitte Bardot, Mick Jagger, and celebrities and VIPs have for decades flocked to the hotel’s nightclub, Les Caves du Roy. Le Byblos hotel and its nightclub have certainly contributed to cementing Saint-Tropez as the Mediterranean destination for the rich and famous.

With the release of the Royal Oak Offshore Special Edition Le Byblos, for the first time ever Audemars Piguet is aligning itself with this southern French institution. This move on the part of the Swiss watchmaker recognizes the French hotel’s significance and commemorates its international prestige.

During the launch event, Antoine Chevanne, the owner of Hotel Byblos, said, “The cooperation began two years ago when I met with François-Henry at the Audemars Piguet manufacture in Le Brassus. I presented the Byblos Exclusive Series’ concept to him and he immediately loved it before deciding to rename it ‘B.A.P’ (pronounced Be Appy in Frenglish) for ‘Byblos – Audemars – Piguet’.”

Available in two sizes, one for him and one for her, the B.A.P models combine the design cues of the Royal Oak Offshore along with the aesthetics of the French Rivera.

The Men’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Le Byblos

Sized at a generous 44mm, the men’s Royal Oak Offshore Le Byblos comes in an 18k pink gold case. Housing a white dial, the case includes a screw-locked crown at 3 o’clock flanked by push-pieces on either side. Featuring the brand’s signature “Mega Tapisserie” pattern, the dial includes three registers — at 6, 9, and 12 o’clock — a date window at 3 o’clock, and a white tachymeter scale that runs around the watch face’s circumference. And central to the dial are luminescent-coated rose gold hands framed by rose gold hour markers, which complement the case and its famed octagonal bezel. Paired with a brilliant white rubber strap with a pink gold pin buckle, this is a watch that stands out on the wrist.

Powering the 44mm sized Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Le Byblos is the automatic winding Calibre 3126. Offering a minutes, hours, and seconds sub-dial, as well as date display and a chronograph function with automatic flyback reset, this is an elegant take on a sports watch. And for those who like to admire the watchmaker’s artistry, the movement can be viewed via the timepiece’s sapphire crystal caseback. Emphasizing the tribute, the crystal also features Le Byblos’ coat of arms, its name and location, and its anniversary dates.

The Women’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Le Byblos

Unlike the men’s version, the women’s Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Le Byblos comes in a stainless steel 37mm case. But, for added preciousness, the bezel is set with 32 brilliant cut diamonds. Also with a screw-locked crown at 3 o’clock, this model features smaller, round push-pieces in light of the watch’s more delicate design. Similar to the men’s iteration, this timepiece includes a white dial with a “Lady Tapisserie” motif. Furthermore, there’s the luminescent-coated rose gold hands and hour markers. Additionally, the three sub-dials on the women’s edition are placed at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. Finally, there’s also the date aperture at 4 o’clock. This model is also fitted with a brilliant white rubber strap. However, to match the case material, its pin buckle closing comes in stainless steel.

Also driven by a self-winding chronograph movement, the 37mm version offers similar functionality. However, in constrast to the other model, this caseback is not transparent but rather, solid stainless steel. Corresponding to the men’s version, it too features a Le Byblos-centric design engraved into the caseback material.

Due to their limited run of just 70 units, these watches will only be available at select Audemars Piguet boutiques. Only 50 pieces of the men’s 44mm model are available, each with a price tag of $47,500. On the other hand, only 20 models of the women’s 37mm version are available, each costing $29,000. Indeed, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Le Byblos are beautiful interpretations of French Riviera chic.

Pre-Owned Audemars Piguet Watches

If however, you’re unable to get your hands on these special edition Royal Oak Offshore watches, fear not. Gray & Sons stocks a robust inventory of pre-owned Audemars Piguet watches at fantastic prices. Make sure to browse our catalog of pre-owned Royal Oak, secondhand Royal Oak Offshore, and other used Audemars Piguet watches.

From rugged stainless steel to precious gold to opulent diamond versions, we carry Audemars Piguet watches for men and women.