Designer Carolina Bucci spotted wearing a Audemars Piguet

Carolina Bucci, the Florentine jeweler and long-standing creative partner of Audemars Piguet, was recently photographed wearing the newly released 37mm Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Ref. 26430TI in titanium. The sighting captures the timepiece against a Mediterranean backdrop, paired with a matching turquoise rubber strap that echoes the watch's playful summer colour palette. The compact 37mm Royal Oak Offshore represents a significant shift in the collection's sizing strategy, moving away from the larger case dimensions that have dominated the model since its 1993 debut.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Ref. 26430TI houses the newly developed in-house calibre 6401, a selfwinding chronograph movement featuring a column-wheel mechanism with vertical clutch system. The titanium case measures 37mm in diameter with a thickness of approximately 12.8mm, delivering a more proportionate wrist presence than predecessor 42mm variants. The dial showcases Audemars Piguet's signature turquoise tapisserie finish—a refined evolution of the traditional hand-guillochéd pattern—with applied white gold hour markers and chronograph subdials positioned at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. Water resistance reaches 100 metres, sufficient for recreational water exposure though not designed for diving. The titanium construction reduces weight considerably compared to stainless steel alternatives while maintaining the case's structural rigidity and scratch resistance.

The 37mm Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Ref. 26430TI marks a deliberate repositioning within Audemars Piguet's sports watch hierarchy. Collectors have long requested a more accessible case diameter for the Offshore line, and this 2026 release addresses that demand directly. The turquoise tapisserie variant remains limited in production, particularly in titanium, making early examples notable for future collectibility. The introduction of the calibre 6401 also signals Audemars Piguet's commitment to developing modern chronograph movements across its collection, differentiating this reference from discontinued automatic chronograph models.

Bucci's styling choice underscores a significant trend among luxury watch enthusiasts toward colour and personality in sports chronographs. Her previous collaborations with Audemars Piguet—including the frosted-gold Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar and a 34mm black-ceramic Royal Oak—demonstrate her influence on the manufacture's design philosophy. Pairing the new titanium Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph with her own jewellery designs creates a cohesive aesthetic that bridges haute horlogerie and contemporary luxury accessories.

The Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Ref. 26430TI carries an estimated retail price of approximately $54,000 USD at launch. Grey-market pricing for the titanium turquoise variant currently ranges between $58,000 and $65,000 USD, reflecting strong early demand. Waitlists at authorized Audemars Piguet retailers remain substantial, particularly for coloured dial variants in titanium. Pre-owned examples of the 37mm Offshore Chronograph remain scarce as the reference has only recently entered circulation.