The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph 42 mm 26238ST.OO.2000ST.01 is the steel-on-steel version of the Offshore generation introduced in 2021: a 42 mm stainless steel case, a blue "Petite Tapisserie" dial with blue counters and white gold hour markers, the in-house calibre 4404 flyback chronograph with 70 hours of power reserve, a sapphire caseback and AP's interchangeable strap system, with a blue rubber strap supplied alongside the bracelet. It replaced the 26470 series that had carried the 42 mm Offshore since 2014. This guide covers the specifications, what changed from the 26470, how the 26238ST compares with the titanium 26238TI and the 43 mm 26420 series, how it wears, price context and what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources the 26238ST to order; the Royal Oak Offshore collection lists the configurations we can seek.
Last reviewed on October 17, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.
Royal Oak Offshore 26238ST.OO.2000ST.01 specifications
| Attribute | 26238ST.OO.2000ST.01 |
|---|---|
| Case | 42 mm stainless steel, 15.3 mm thick; glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback; blue rubber pushpieces; screw-locked crown |
| Bezel | Octagonal stainless steel bezel with eight exposed hexagonal screws |
| Dial | Blue "Petite Tapisserie" pattern, blue counters, white gold applied hour markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, blue inner bezel |
| Movement | Calibre 4404, selfwinding flyback chronograph; hours, minutes, small seconds and date; 40 jewels, 433 parts, 4 Hz (28,800 vph), 70 hours power reserve, 32 mm diameter, 8 mm thick |
| Bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet with AP folding clasp and interchangeable strap system; an additional blue rubber strap is supplied |
| Water resistance | 100 m |
| Warranty | Two years from Audemars Piguet against manufacturing defects |
| Predecessor | 26470ST (2014 to 2021), modular chronograph on the calibre 3120 base |
Source: the Audemars Piguet product page for the 26238ST.OO.2000ST.01, which lists the calibre 4404, the 15.3 mm thickness, the Petite Tapisserie dial and the additional rubber strap; the Royal Oak Offshore collection page shows the current line-up.
What changed from the 26470 to the 26238?
The 2021 generation is a quieter revision than it looks. The case stays at 42 mm and keeps the Offshore's octagonal bezel, rubber-clad pushers and screw-locked crown, but AP fitted a sapphire caseback for the first time on the standard steel 42 mm chronograph and introduced its interchangeable strap system, so the bracelet and the supplied rubber strap swap without tools. The dial pattern moved from the coarse "Méga Tapisserie" of the 26470 to the finer "Petite Tapisserie", with the counters and inner bezel colour-matched to the dial. The larger change is inside. The 26470 used a modular chronograph, a Dubois Dépraz module on AP's calibre 3120 base, which meant no flyback and a stacked construction. The calibre 4404 is an integrated flyback chronograph with a column wheel and vertical clutch, built on the architecture AP introduced in 2019 for the Code 11.59 and later used across the Royal Oak and Offshore lines. Power reserve rose to 70 hours, the chronograph seconds hand can be reset and restarted in one press, and the movement is visible through the caseback. Thickness is the trade-off: at 15.3 mm the 26238 is not slimmer than its predecessor.
26238ST vs 26238TI vs 26420: which Royal Oak Offshore chronograph?
| 26238ST.OO.2000ST.01 | 26238TI.OO.2000TI.01 | 26420 series (43 mm) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case | 42 mm steel, 15.3 mm thick | 42 mm titanium, same dimensions | 43 mm, steel, titanium, ceramic or gold depending on reference; ceramic bezel on the SO versions |
| Dial | Blue Petite Tapisserie, counters at 12, 6 and 9, date at 3 | Grey Petite Tapisserie, same layout | Méga Tapisserie, counters at 3, 6 and 9, date at 4:30 |
| Movement | Calibre 4404 flyback, 70 h | Calibre 4404 flyback, 70 h | Calibre 4401 flyback, 70 h |
| Bracelet or strap | Steel bracelet plus blue rubber strap | Titanium bracelet plus rubber strap | Rubber or leather straps with interchangeable system |
| Weight on the wrist | Heaviest of the three | Markedly lighter; titanium is about 40 percent lighter than steel | Larger but on a strap, so lighter than the steel bracelet |
| Bizak catalogue, 17 Oct 2026 | US$42,146 brand new | US$42,126 brand new | US$39,897 to 49,440 for steel references |
The 26238ST is the classic proposition: steel case, steel bracelet, blue dial, the combination the Offshore has sold on since the 1993 original. The 26238TI is the same watch in titanium with a grey dial, and the weight saving is the whole argument; on a 15.3 mm case with a full bracelet it is a real difference across a day. The 43 mm 26420SO is a different watch: a larger case, ceramic bezel and pushers on most versions, the 3-6-9 counter layout and a strap rather than a bracelet. Buyers who want the integrated bracelet choose the 26238; those who want the bolder Offshore look choose the 26420. The 26238ST is also offered on a blue rubber strap as the 26238ST.OO.A340CA.01, listed at US$45,619 on October 17, 2026.
How does the Royal Oak Offshore 26238ST wear?
The 42 mm Offshore wears larger than its diameter because the bezel is wide, the case is slab-sided and the integrated bracelet continues the lines of the case outward. The 2021 case is 15.3 mm thick, which is tall by Royal Oak standards, and the sapphire caseback adds a little height over the 26470. On a steel bracelet the watch is heavy; that is part of the Offshore's character, and the reason the titanium version exists. Wrists from about 17 cm (6.7 inches) upward carry it comfortably. The supplied rubber strap changes the watch considerably: it drops the weight, shortens the visual footprint and turns a dress-sport chronograph into a beach watch, and it fits without tools through the quick-change system. The blue dial reads dark indoors and opens up to a brighter blue in daylight, with the colour-matched counters keeping the layout calm; the luminescent Royal Oak hands and markers are legible at night.
How much is a Royal Oak Offshore 26238ST? Prices in 2026
- Retail. The 26238ST.OO.2000ST.01 is a current reference, and AP's list price is shown on its product page in the markets where the brand publishes pricing. Steel Offshore chronographs sit in the mid-to-high US$30,000s to low US$40,000s at retail in 2026, and AP allocates them through its own boutiques, so waiting lists apply.
- Secondary market. Unworn 26238ST examples have asked around or a little above retail through 2025 and 2026, with the premium smaller than on the Royal Oak 15510ST and the Jumbo. Pre-owned examples with full sets have asked below retail.
- Bizak catalogue asks. On October 17, 2026 our sourced catalogue listed the 26238ST.OO.2000ST.01 at US$42,146 brand new, the 26238TI at US$42,126, the 26238ST on rubber at US$45,619, and 43 mm 26420SO steel references between US$39,897 and US$49,440, all sourced to order.
Those figures describe what we saw on one day and will move. Ask for a dated quote for the exact reference, year and set; our Audemars Piguet price guide explains how the Royal Oak and Offshore ranges are priced.
Is the Royal Oak Offshore 26238ST a good investment?
It is a watch to wear. The Offshore has never carried the premium of the 39 mm or 41 mm Royal Oak, and the 26238ST is a current, steadily produced reference, so there is no scarcity to pay for. That is also its strength: it can be bought near retail, worn hard, and sold without a large loss provided the set is complete and the case has not been polished. Collectors who want AP appreciation look at the Royal Oak Jumbo, limited Offshores and precious-metal references. If resale matters, ask for a written cash-buy assessment before you commit; our Royal Oak authentication and collecting guide explains how a full set is valued.
Buying a 26238ST.OO.2000ST.01: what to check
- Warranty card and set. The card should name the reference and serial and match the caseback; AP's two-year warranty runs from the activation date. Confirm the blue rubber strap, the strap-change tool if supplied, and the box are present.
- Flyback. With the chronograph running, one press of the lower pusher should reset and restart the seconds hand instantly. A hesitant or incomplete reset means a service visit.
- Bezel screws. The eight hexagonal screws should be aligned as AP sets them and free of tool marks; marked screws suggest a non-AP opening.
- Case and bracelet finish. Royal Oak cases live on the contrast between brushed flats and polished chamfers; softened chamfers or rounded bezel edges mean refinishing. Check the links, where the brushing is hardest to restore.
- Dial. The Petite Tapisserie pattern should be crisp, the white gold markers undamaged and the lume even. The 26238 dial is subtly different from the 26470's, so a swapped dial is easy to spot once you know the pattern.
- Strap system. Test the quick-change release on both the bracelet and the rubber strap; the mechanism should lock positively.
- Service. AP services the 4404 through its own network; its service programme page describes what is covered, and a watch opened outside the network should be priced with that in mind.
Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch.
Quick answers
How much is an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 26238ST?
Steel Offshore chronographs retail in the mid-to-high US$30,000s to low US$40,000s in 2026. Bizak's sourced catalogue listed the 26238ST.OO.2000ST.01 at US$42,146 brand new on October 17, 2026, sourced to order.
What movement is in the Royal Oak Offshore 26238ST?
The calibre 4404, an in-house selfwinding flyback chronograph with a column wheel, 40 jewels, 4 Hz and 70 hours of power reserve, visible through a sapphire caseback.
What is the difference between the 26238ST and the 26470ST?
The 26238ST of 2021 has the integrated flyback calibre 4404, a sapphire caseback, the interchangeable strap system and a Petite Tapisserie dial; the 26470ST of 2014 to 2021 had a modular chronograph, a solid caseback and the coarser Méga Tapisserie dial. Both are 42 mm steel.
Does the 26238ST come with a rubber strap?
Yes. Audemars Piguet supplies an additional blue rubber strap with the steel bracelet, and both fit through the interchangeable strap system without tools.
Is the Royal Oak Offshore 42 mm too big?
It wears larger than 42 mm because of the wide bezel and integrated bracelet, and it is 15.3 mm thick. Wrists of about 17 cm and above carry it well; smaller wrists should try the titanium 26238TI or the 41 mm Royal Oak chronograph.
Request a Royal Oak Offshore 26238ST sourcing quote
Tell us the reference, preferred year range, condition and whether the warranty card is required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, card and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: 26238ST.OO.2000ST.01 steel on bracelet, 26238TI titanium, 26238ST on rubber strap; browse the Royal Oak Offshore collection, all Audemars Piguet or our chronographs, or sell or trade your Offshore.
Related reading: Audemars Piguet watch prices · Royal Oak authentication and collecting guide · Rolex Daytona 126500LN guide · Patek Philippe Nautilus 5990 guide.
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