Rolex vs Audemars Piguet is a heavyweight match; add platinum and white gold, and you have the heavyweight championship of sports watches! The Rolex YachtMaster III 116689 in white gold and platinum is the flagship of the Rolex regatta timer line. Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Offshore chronograph 26470PT.OO.1000PT.01 is the richest 42mm Offshore ever offered. Today on Versus, the battle lines are drawn between champions of two premier Swiss luxury watch brands.

The first Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore chronograph launched at Baselworld 1993. Its 42mm steel case and chronograph complication established the design rules of this model family with immediate effect. But the 2018 AP Royal Oak Offshore platinum boutique edition of 50 pieces is the first ever full platinum Royal Oak Offshore 42mm with bracelet. It includes a matching platinum bracelet and platinum deployant clasp with trigger release action.

More than a pretty face, this 430-gram+ Royal Oak dreadnought packs a visual punch. Audemars Piguet equips the watch with an exclusive fume style mega tapisserie dial. White gold hands, Arabic numerals, a date with magnifier, and a black tachymeter complete the the dial composition.

AP employs its caliber 3126/3840 modular chronograph caliber. The base movement is an in-house caliber with a 50-55 hour power reserve, automatic winding, a quickset date, and a hacking (stop seconds) mechanism. The movement is protected to 100 meters thanks to a screw down crown with black ceramic shoulder. A sapphire display caseback graces the reverse of the case.

Rolex’s 44mm Yacht-Master II bowed at Baselworld 2007. At the time, it was the most complicated Rolex watch ever offered. Its caliber 4161 remains a marvel; automatic winding, 3-day power reserve, COSC certified Swiss chronometer precision, programmable memory for the countdown period; flyback AND fly-forward capability, and a vertical clutch / column wheel tandem establish this Rolex’s horological bona fides.

For good measure, a full balance bridge, freesprung balance with Rolex Microstella masses, and a Breguet overcoil hairspring with Parachrom Blue antimagnetic alloy reinforce the Rolex 4161.

Rolex owns its own foundry, and that is the source of this Yacht Master 2’s white gold and platinum. The platinum is confined to the bezel, a rotating Ring Command control system that is part of the movement itself. All remaining exterior components are crafted from “grey gold” an 18-karat white gold alloy that never needs to be plated with rhodium. The 44mm case is large but graceful, and its lines bear a clear family resemblance to the Rolex Daytona, Datejust, and Day Date models.

Rolex’s Oyster bracelet is robust and secure. A locking deployant clasp inspires confidence and features an internal Rolex Easylink adjustment system good for 5mm of extension or trimming as needed.

Rolex’s Yacht Master II dial was revised for 2017, and the difference between the prior and current models lies in the latter’s use of a “Mercedes” hour hand and revised hour index profiles. Today’s watch is part of the 2007-2016 family of Yacht-Master II models. The white gold indices, matching hands, and snow-white dial base exude quality and Rolex precision. Rolex Chromalite luminant paint permits easy reading at night. A countdown scale reads from ten to zero minutes and includes a dedicated minute hand that lies at the heart of the regatta timer function.

Rolex vs Audemars Piguet starts now!