And now, AP (as Audemars Piguet in known in the industry) is making a special “Pride of Mexico” watch to celebrate Mexico’s 200 years of Independence from Spain.

Using the infamously popular Royal Oak Offshore style, AP will come out with this limited edition watch, obviously geared toward the wealthy Mexican market.

Available in just 300 pieces, this watch is created from 19K rose gold or titanium and comes in a 42mm size. The rose gold series will offer 100 pieces and the titanium series will have 200.

The standard Royal Oak features remain; meaning the octagonal shape, steel edges, and use of hexagonal screws. What will make this watch unique are the color of the hour hands (green) and the red chronograph seconds hand, set against a white dial finished in “Mega Tappiserie” as these are the colors of the Mexican flag. Engraved on the case back is the Angel of Independence that commemorates the 200 years.

The watch runs on the Audemars Piguet Calibre 2326/2804 automatic chronograph movement and comes with a black crocodile strap with green stitching and either a gold or steel buckle. The watch is water resistant to 100 meters and has 38 hours of power reserve.

With only 300 of these special “Pride of Mexico” watches being made, they are sure to go for more than other watches from the Royal Oak Offshore collection, but with that many, if not more millionaires in Mexico, sales should not be a problem.

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Audemars recently confirmed that it signed a three year deal for sponsorship of the Russian prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharoba and the place where she dances; the Russian Bolshoi Ballerina Theater. It’s probably safe to say that this is the first time a watch brand has brought on a ballerina as well as a theater. Although the figures themselves may be an experimental move, the country in which they reside is not. Russia represents a vast market for luxury goods, watches included. AP is figuring that those who are part of Russia’s elite and go to the ballet, are the same ones that can afford and want to buy high end watches.

It is assumed that advertisements for Audemars Piguet watches will be in the programs handed out and perhaps also in the theater itself.

Speaking of the Russian elite, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has quite the collection of luxury watches and although he has recently given a few away, he surely has enough money to re-stock. During a press conference a few weeks ago, a factory worker asked Putin for something to remember him by… his watch. Rather than look bad, Putin took it off and handed over a Blancpain watch worth about $8,000 dollars.

The most expensive luxury watch that Putin has been spotted wearing is a Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar valued at about $51,500 dollars.

The new Audemars Piguet Ambassador Svetlana Zakharova was born in the Ukrainian city of Lutsk and has been dancing since the age of 10.

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