Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 26405CE.OO.A002CA.99

Full Ceramic Construction

Most ceramic watches use a ceramic bezel on a steel or titanium case. The 26405CE goes further — the entire case, the octagonal bezel, the crown guards, and the pushers are all ceramic. This is harder to manufacture and more expensive, but the result is a 44mm chronograph that wears lighter than a 42mm steel Offshore.

Ceramic is rated around 1,400 on the Vickers hardness scale versus roughly 200 for 316L steel. In practical terms, it resists desk-diving scratches and bracelet rash that mark a steel case within weeks. The tradeoff is brittleness — a hard drop onto tile can chip ceramic where steel would only dent. For normal daily wear, ceramic wins. Compare this with the standard 26405CE to see the dial differences on the .99 variant.

Black on Black Legibility

The black Mega Tapisserie dial against the black ceramic case could be a legibility problem, but AP handles it with white-tipped hands and white minute markers around the outer track. The contrast is enough to read the time in low light. The chronograph sub-dials use a slightly recessed surface that catches shadows, making them distinct from the main dial plane.

This replica royal oak offshore 26405CE reproduces the ceramic case color and surface texture accurately. The matte black finish has a depth that painted steel cannot replicate — ceramic absorbs light differently, with no metallic reflection at the edges.

See our FAQ for care instructions specific to ceramic watches. The full Offshore range includes other material options if you want to compare weight and finish.