Read indepth magazine
Audemars Piguet Release Leo Messi Royal Oak Timepiece
Distinguished Swiss watch-makers Audemars Piguet have created a limited edition timepiece in hour of Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi – widely considered the world’s greatest living player.
Limited to just 1,000 pieces, the Leo Messi Royal Oak chronograph is the latest in the watch brand’s Royal Oak collection – but without their trademark tapisserie motif – and is based on the new 41mm Royal Oak chronograph announced this year SIHH watch fair.
With a 41mm diameter, the watch is available in either steel/tantalum, pink gold/tantalum or platinum/tantalum. It houses a self-winding mechanical calibre 2385 movement.
The watch also features an alligator strap – and with an additional sportier rubber strap – to replace the traditional steel bracelet. The dial is vertically brushed anthracite with hour markers in white gold for the steel version and pink gold for the pink gold version, while the platinum version sports a deep blue dial with white gold hour markers.
For all three versions, the three auxiliary chronograph counters and the small seconds counter are encircled by a finely brushed silvered ring.
Retaining the Royal Oak collection’s distinctive eight hexagonal screws in polished white gold, both the new watch’s bezel and the fastening links of the strap are in tantalum, giving off subtle glints of blue and grey.
Each watch in the limited series is delivered in an original case in the shape of a lacquered shoe box decorated on the inside with a personal dedication from Lionel Messi.
The price of the the Leo Messi Royal Oak chronograph ranges from $30,400 for the steel/tantalum model, $51,400 for the pink gold/tantalum and $83,300 for the platinum/tantalum.