Released in 1999 as a limited edition release of 500 pieces, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ‘End of Days’ features in the eponymous Arnold Schwarzenegger movie from the same year, and is designed with the very same bad-ass apocalyptic themes in mind. Featuring a stainless-steel construction, the timepiece is entirely blacked-out using a technique called ‘Physical Vapour Deposition,’ or PVD as it's known. While this may seem par for the course today, the ‘90s were different times and so the End of Days is famed for setting a new trend. this is due to PVD-coatings traditionally being used only on more-accessibly priced tool watches such as TAG Heuer, Panerai and some others. Much like how AP set the trend with stainless steel luxury sports watches in the ‘70s, AP turned the market on its head in this regard too and brought PVD-coatings to the world of luxury horology. Fitted with an equally blacked-out dial featuring the brand’s signature tappiserie pattern, the dial’s only source of colour comes from its signal yellow hands and Arabic numerals, highlighting its design as an extreme timepiece fit for the end of days.

The watch is in overall excellent condition. The PVD-coated case shows some wear along the edges, with more noticeable wear on the bezel edge. The case back displays some wear but retains well-defined engravings. The rubber-clad crown and pushers are in excellent condition. The dial and hands are near mint. The leather strap shows wear, with peeling to the underside of the non-buckle side, while the PVD-coated pin buckle has light marks. The watch comes with its inner and outer boxes.

Setting trends in more ways than one, the End of Days not only brought PVD finishes to high horology but also marked the beginning of the era of Hollywood-sponsored big-name partnerships that countless brands rallied behind.