First released in 1993, the Royal Oak Offshore was designed to expand upon Audemars Piguet's ever-iconic Royal Oak collection as a sports-focused timepiece. Designed so that it could take some severe wear and tear while continuing to perform at the highest standards possible, the Royal Oak Offshore epitomized a luxury sports watch by all accounts. Featuring AP's artisanal craftsmanship, avant-garde design, and an impeccable taste for the horological, the Royal Oak Offshore was a true maverick amongst both; AP’s offerings and the entire industry. Nicknamed "The Beast" due to its larger-than-normal 42mm case, the imposingly thick o-ring beneath its octagonal bezel, and rubberized pushers, the Royal Oak Offshore flew in the face of luxury watchmaking in much the same way that the Royal Oak did in 1972. So, the Offshore continued AP's tradition in remaining ahead of the curve and arguably be attributed with beginning the hyper-watch trend that has evolved into the modern horological landscape.

Released three years after the original Royal Oak Offshore “Beast” was released in 1996, Audemars Piguet launched the new Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25770ST with eight new variants that featured a new colorful aesthetic and distinctively altered cases. While still the same sports-oriented timepiece, the Tropical collection ranged from deep blue and yellow to red and purple and a selection of other wonderful colors that livened up the collection’s tool watch focus and turned the watch into a vibrant statement piece. Additionally, with the Offshore now sitting on a leather strap for the very first time, Audemars Piguet reverted from the Royal Oak's signature double plot lugs to hinge lugs that enable the leather strap to hang straight down from the watch. Following on from the Tropical collection, AP expanded the ref. 25770ST family to include the timepiece we have here with its two-tone grey and blue dial, blue leather strap and reference-defining lug design.