Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph

The AM Take

Pub. 2008-10-30

This self-winding chronograph is a tribute to the modern and masculine man with cash to splash. When you first take it out of its presentation box, you'll notice the sapphire case back that allows you to glimpse the Swiss heritage and pedigree within. However, as you slip the stainless steel bracelet over your wrist, your eye will catch sight of the sub-dials that allow you to track smaller moments in time. This watch is, however, only rated to a depth of 50 meters, but since the adults-only pool at the Palms in Vegas is not that deep, you shouldn’t have any problems.

Uniqueness

Finding a Swiss-made automatic chronograph is not all that difficult, but finding one that packs so much timekeeping ability in such a slick case design might send you on an endless quest. Perhaps the best design detail is the raised thickness of the 44-mm case, which is complemented by the rectilinear edges of the push button's crown and bezel which, thankfully, does nothing more than circle the watch face with industrial accents.

Durability

Many Swiss watches, particularly chronographs, rely on old-world style and antiquated accents. However, Audemars has seen fit to shape and outfit this watch with the best of modern design. This is a luxury watch made for the man of the moment who spends his time thinking about tomorrow and the next big deal -- which might be why Ari (Jeremy Piven) got one of these as a gift on the hit show Entourage. The style of this timepiece is distinct without being over the top, and the limited production run means each watch will hold its value over other Swiss watches that are churned out in the thousands every year.