Auckland City$1,195,000322103m²369m²Freehold Brick Bungalow in Great LocationFreehold title provides practicality and comfortable living for busy families and professionals.Located in the heart of desirable Royal Oak this three-bedroom bungalow invites warmth A firm tribute to design and craftsmanship of its era high stud ceilings and original fixtures sets this home apart Established privacy hedging and dignified toparies create a sense of design and define the exterior spaces Lawn and garden patio extends outdoor living Step up to the entrance foyer with original etched glass front door with added security screen door Walk through to semi-open plan living with the spacious lounge enjoying garden outlook and heat pump for year-round comfort The combined kitchen/dining has a gracious layout; French doors to the deck area ample benchtop space and original fireplace surround The master bedroom has a restful outlook and stunning original leadlight windows The second double lends itself to a private retreat with separate bathroom and second entrance The third room would make a gorgeous nursery or delightful home office.Exceptionally located with Royal Oak Intermediate adjacent Cornwall Park nearby.With its classical look and prime location this is a special home that is sure to impress Salespeople – we welcome your conjunctional from day one based on a borrower’s individual credit assessment.Canstar's Most Awarded Personal LoanGet a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life we can approve your home improvement loan quickly and get your renovation started ADVERTORIALIf people are on the lookout for a “primo spot” to eat with a great country atmosphere campground over the road and one of the best spots in the country for fishing: Royal Oak Hotel is the place to go.Owners Lisa and Chris Chaffey who have been at the helm for two and a half years said the most rewarding thing so far was “meeting heaps of awesome people who make our jobs so much more fun”.When dining great food and cold drinks.One must-eat meal is “definitely the catch of the day”.“Nothing beats fresh fish and chips with a delicious garden salad,” but steak came in at a very close second Lisa said.But the Royal Oak Hotel has a signature special with a family twist.Chris’ dad started Thames Pies in the early 2000s Chris took over the recipes and rebranded to Tapu Pies.“We can barely keep up with demand some days we sell just as many cold/frozen pies as we do hot ones.”But good food and drink isn’t all that’s on offer – they also sell Royal Oak Hotel hoodies and a new line of shorts.“If you can’t make it in to buy in person message us via Facebook or Instagram to pay via internet banking [and] to arrange postage.”Stay up to date and follow Royal Oak Hotel Tapu on Facebook or Instagram A fire at Bentley's Barber shop on Manukau Rd in Royal Oak is being treated as arson A fire that broke out at a barber shop in the Auckland suburb of Royal Oak overnight is being treated as arson Firefighters were called to the blaze at Bentley’s Barbers on Manukau Rd at 2.44am Fire and Emergency northern shift manager Josh Pennefather said the block of shops measured around 40m by 20m, with residential property in the storey above. However, the fire remained small and was contained to one shop. Four fire trucks were sent to the scene and the blaze was extinguished within half an hour. A Herald photographer said multiple ambulances attended the scene - however Pennefather said everyone was out of the building and there were no injuries. The fire is considered suspicious, and police are on scene, along with two fire investigators. One fire truck is still attending, with firefighters monitoring hotspots. A police spokesperson said a scene examination will take place today. The spokesperson said police are urging anyone with footage or information that may help their investigation to call them on 105 referencing file number 240731/8638. No one knew he'd fallen after a guard rail gave way while he was loading containers. Auckland CityBy negotiation314567m²Enquiries $1,500,000If you are in the market for a medium size 3 bed home in a popular central Auckland location then this Freehold Bungalow will tick those boxes The 3 bed 1 bath home still offers a very spacious floor plan with full size bedrooms and generous living areas which is open plan to multiple living spaces which flow easily to a sunny terrace and decked outdoor living areas The property is well secured with an electric gate and offers abundant off-street parking including a large pergola style carport Family buyers will appreciate the lawn areas at front and rear of the site and fully fenced security for the toddlers & the dog Buyers with pre-school or primary school age will appreciate being in zone for both incredibly popular Royal Oak Schools with the Intermediate just a few metres away from the front gate a super sized playground for the older kids on your doorstep as the home is at the very end of a peaceful cul de sac a short stroll to Royal Oak Shopping Centre a short drive to Onehunga Mall & Dressmart and also close to iconic Cornwall Park & One Tree Hill Domain and easy access to Public Transport & Motorway system to Airport and beyond Even the local family Pub is just around the corner Come and view this very well presented home for yourself See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson Auckland CityAsking Price $845,00021385m²First Home Buyers Downsizers and InvestorsThis newly renovated 2-bedroom flat is designed to impress with its perfect blend of style Step into the heart of this home and you'll find a luxurious open-plan space crafted with intent and care to the well thought out and highly sought after storage opportunities you'll find this home to be a powerhouse of features - High-quality joinery and durable white plywood carcass interiors - Built-in cabinet by the slider for exceptional storage - Fully fenced yard - perfect for young children and beloved fur babies - Networking internet hub for seamless connectivity - Smart lighting control to set the perfect ambiance - New triple-glazed large slider doors to open up the space in summer - Water tank collection system for your garden you'll enjoy easy access to Monte Cecilia Park as well as the convenient access to both motorways This is the opportunity you've been waiting for come join me at the next open home and experience central modern living that is move-in ready Get a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life. With no need for quotes from tradies, we can approve your home improvement loan quickly and get your renovation started. Auckland CityPrice by Negotiation321556m²First home buyers or investorsDiscover the perfect blend of classic charm and modern convenience this delightful weatherboard home offers three spacious bedrooms and a well-appointed bathroom plus laundry with shower box and additional toilet making it an ideal choice for families or those seeking a character-filled residence Open-plan kitchen and dining proving an opening living space and flows to the formal lounge at the front or out to the deck and generous outdoors the home provides ample room for comfortable living Set on a 556sqm (more or less) freehold section there's plenty of space for outdoor activities you'll enjoy easy access to local amenities Zoned for both Onehunga Primary and Royal Oak School Royal Oak intermediate and Onehunga High School This central location is also idea for those looking to work from home or combine a business premises Zoned Business Town Centre provides for many options The homes 1940s architecture adds a touch of nostalgia while offering potential to update to suit your personal style Auckland CityAsking price $1,298,000315Affordable Home in Awesome LocationIf you are thinking about living in a prime central Auckland location but are finding sale prices a bit daunting then this well presented bungalow may be the solution The very well presented home is now surplus to requirements for the owners Offering a 3 bedroom 1 bathroom layout over a surprisingly spacious floor plan with open plan modern kitchen & dining area that flows easily through to a lovely living room Featuring polished flooring and a few retained character touches and the heat pump can add actual warmth when required there isn't too much to do here for a new home owner and investors will appreciate the Healthy Homes readiness as tenants are not hard to attract to this location With a lockable single garage and ample off-street parking the property certainly ticks a lot of boxes An easy stroll to Royal Oak Shopping Mall & popular Greenwoods Corner cafes and iconic Cornwall Park & One Tree Hill Domain there is also public transport on your doorstep and very easy access to the motorway system & Airport the home is in zone for both of the very popular Royal Oak Schools See this listing on Barfoot & Thompson Auckland CityPrice By Negotiation324186m²Overseas Bound Vendor Says SellThis much-loved brick & tile family home with beautiful presented & well maintained by the current owner Features 3 generous bedrooms & 2 bathrooms (Master bedroom with an ensuite and walk in wardrobe) Internal access double garage with good off-street parking There is a flow to a sunny courtyard with beautiful Relax and enjoy living here as our vendor had been done for the last many years Zoned for Royal Oak Intermediate school & Onehunga High School Low maintenance home with this desirable location is always in demand and immediate action is recommended What a great time to buy this beautiful family home a new software platform that provides consumers and customer service representatives with billing insights Built on a secure technology foundation designed to safeguard customer privacy is the first and only tool that offers both a consumer–facing web portal and a CSR–focused dashboard — each engineered to drive operational efficiency With utilities facing mounting pressure to reduce costs to serve while delivering an exceptional customer experience BillWise AI answers common customer inquiries like “Why is my bill so high?” by delivering a clear personalized breakdown of the customer’s utility bill “We’ve spent over a decade helping utilities innovate at the intersection of energy data analytics and customer experience,” says Rahul Prakash “BillWise AI combines that expertise with the latest in Generative AI enabling utilities to dramatically reduce operational costs through lower call volumes and reduced average handle time.” BillWise AI is improving Average Handle Time (AHT) by providing customer service representatives with insightful customized data to more effectively address customer needs Powerley reports BillWise AI has achieved impressive call deflection rates highlighting its ability to enhance the customer experience and reduce call volume “BillWise AI is a key step in our journey to further empower our customers to take control of their energy usage and manage their affordability,” says Angie Pizzuti senior vice president and chief customer officer at DTE Energy “We’ve also seen the benefits for our customer service team where we’re seeing shorter call times after deployment this technology is a win-win for our company and our customers.” Powerley designed BillWise AI to prioritize personalization and insights while ensuring customer data remains secure All AI services are services run within Powerley’s secure environment minimizing exposure to third parties and preventing unauthorized access Powerley’s approach to generative AI also reduces the risk of hallucinations so customers can trust every recommendation Powerley states it uses end-to-end encryption and integrated single sign on to ensure customers’ data is always secure BillWise AI is available now to utility customer service groups across North America For more information, visit powerley.com/billwiseAI PETOSKEY — After taking their first league loss of the season last week there wasn’t much time for the Petoskey girls soccer team to mope on the defeat Petoskey has jumped right back into it and added more wins late last week The Northmen (6-3) picked up a 3-2 victory late in the week over Alpena 1 team in Division 4 with a 2-0 Saturday victory over Royal Oak Shrine “We put together our most complete game of the season against a very high level opponent,” Petoskey coach Zach Jonker said “One of the greatest strengths of this group is how diverse our attack can be and that was on display the past two games with five different girls scoring our five goals.” Jonker is spot on what makes his team so tough with so many legs capable of finding the back of the net Annika Gandhi and Brynn Jonker getting the credit then Claire O’Donnell and Lily Premo scored Saturday Both goals Saturday came in the first half PHS Baseball: Petoskey baseball suddenly a triple threat, show slugging power over weekend Top Performers: Petoskey softball makes program history in Cadillac. Top performers for May 1 “We didn't convert in the second half but we continued to generate chances with Mady Smith hitting the post and Annika hitting the crossbar,” Jonker added a pair of goals did come in the second half following a 1-1 halftime but more opportunities also could have come “Alpena always plays us tough and they have the quickest player in the league,” Jonker said “She got behind us twice and converted for both their goals We hit a couple of posts and had a couple of other chances we just narrowly missed Conditions were once again pretty brutal so it was nice to get out of there with the win.” Sadie Corey earned the win in net in both games though split it Saturday with freshman Isla Scheib who had to make a diving stop on a Royal Oak PK in the second half to preserve the shutout With so many games called early in the season 4-1) has hit crunch time on the season with a host of games ahead They’ll welcome in Cadillac on Tuesday and Traverse City Central Thursday before then hosting their annual Petoskey Invite Saturday at the Click Road Soccer Complex Marquette and other regulars in attendance Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com Firefighters say they are treating a blaze in a shop in Auckland's Royal Oak on Wednesday morning as suspicious Fire and Emergency said the fire was in one shop on Manukau Road Four fire trucks attended the blaze and it was out within half-an-hour the organisation says it will be out of cash reserves by 2026-27 Firefighters have warned Auckland Council the city's rapid growth means they sometimes run low on water to put out fires Molotov cocktails were lobbed inside an Auckland barber shop sparking a fire that has destroyed a haircutting premises which broke out at 2.44am in Bentleys Barbers in Royal Oak This morning fire investigators and police officers were at the burnt-out business scouring for clues as who and what was responsible for the suspicious fire The building’s property manager told the Herald the building was set alight by Molotov cocktails thrown through the store’s smashed front windows He did not know why someone would target the shop they have been here for ages,” said the man The family had been at the police station today helping with the investigation Photos from the scene show the inside of the shop has been gutted by the fire Charred chairs and blackened counters are all that remain of the business while the footpath and road are strewn with debris suffered smoke damage in the blaze that firefighters contained to the middle store Bentleys Barbers shop manager has been approached for comment A police spokesperson would not confirm if the fire involved Molotov cocktails A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said four fire trucks were sent to the scene and the blaze was extinguished within half an hour Fire and Emergency northern shift manager Josh Pennefather said there was a residential property in the storey above the block of shops Everyone was able to get out of the burning building and there were no injuries A police spokesperson said they are urging anyone with footage or information that may help their investigation to call them on 105 referencing file number 240731/8638 It’s the latest barber shop to go up in flames across Auckland in recent years In January, a blaze destroyed One Two Uppercuts barber shop in Manurewa. was in a shop in the middle of a block at the intersection of Weymouth and Russell Rds At the time it was being treated as suspicious by police and fire investigators The most recent fires come three years after a tense gang war between the Rebels and the King Cobras gangs, where Molotov cocktails were hurled at rivalling businesses and homes. The gang members also shot up homes and businesses during the turf war in 2021. While the most public attacks were the shooting and arson of a barber shop and tattoo parlour in Māngere and a reciprocal attack on a bar in Manukau, the police have linked at least 15 incidents across the city to the gang war. Several people were arrested in November 2021 during a spate of police stings across Auckland. They faced charges including meth supply, arson, and organised crime group participation. Auckland CityPrice By Negotiation442227m²251m²Convenient Living Great Location!This spacious home offers everything your family needs located in Royal Oak and close to One Tree Hill has an easy to maintain lawn and garden and is walking distance to local shops including a master bedroom and downstairs bedrooms with ensuites - Easy access to public transport and motorways Now is your chance to seize this opportunity call me today to secure your position in this great location Get a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life Royal Oak-based Käter Wingman Water is expanding its reach through new partnerships with beverage distributors across the state Wingman Water recently partnered with several distributors The new partnerships are intended to make Wingman Water more accessible in restaurants Wingman has secured a partnership with Meijer bringing the brand to more than 50 Meijer locations The latest production run features brighter bolder branding to reinforce its position — a premium sparkling water with the look and feel of a classic beer designed to elevate the non-alcoholic drinking experience The electrolyte-enhanced sparkling water comes in three flavors: Original Packaged in a distinctive amber beer bottle all three flavors will be available across Ann Arbor and metro Detroit “We created a water that looks like a beer so you can stay in the game and still win tomorrow,” says Kyle Maurer For more information, visit katerwingman.com About a year ago, when Audemars Piguet held its yearly event to present its new collection, the brand introduced a highly appealing version of the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding made with artist and seasoned collector John Mayer This watch marked the swan song of the calibre 5134 becoming the last watch to feature the movement based on the calibre that once powered the 1972 Royal Oak let’s go straight to the point: here’s the new generation of Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding (ref a very clever movement that is a clear step up compared to the old calibre A great way to mark the beginning of AP’s 150th-anniversary celebrations The main objective here was thinness and convenience with all the perpetual calendar functions on one single level user-friendly complication that can be set and corrected anywhere without tools In 2022, Audemars Piguet celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak by presenting the new generation of Jumbo, the 16202ST the mechanics inside jumped into the 21st century with the new calibre 7121 – still automatic with a longer power reserve and finally a quick-set date This brand new generation of a self-winding perpetual calendar movement enters with modern features such as an all-important all-in-one crown And that means no more correctors inserted into the case side These correctors to adjust the different sub-dials were activated with small tools which in turn degraded the water-resistance all corrections are controlled exclusively by the crown meaning that the complication is adjustable anywhere without tools and without risk of damage “As all calendar functions are synchronised thanks to the new crown correction system and more robust movement construction,” explains AP “it is impossible to desynchronise the watch and damage the mechanism if the user tries to set their watch when the automatic date change mechanism is active (between 9 pm and 3 am).” The new crown incorporates four different positions The first is used to wind the watch clockwise Pulling the crown out one step (position 2) allows the date to be set clockwise and to adjust the month and the leap year in the opposite direction By pulling out the crown again (position 3) The last position is reached by pushing the crown back one step (position 2) to set the day and week clockwise and the moon phases counterclockwise the middle position of the crown is different whether it’s pulled or pushed This is based on an innovative lever and wandering wheels system that meshes with the different calendar wheels and is protected by two patents refined finishing with a solid gold rotor on ball bearings and a balance wheel with directly inserted inertia blocks compared to the older generation of Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding models While the signature week indication remains on the periphery it is now the first week of the year (1) that appears at 12 o’clock (instead of week 52) “Monday” and “1” have been aligned at 12 o’clock in their respective sub-dials to mark the start of the week and the first day of the month the dial also features a patented progressive step for the date display at 12 o’clock The AP teams developed a date wheel with 31 custom-made teeth the size of which varies to adapt to the width of the digits and enhance readability A 24-hour indicator has been inserted in the day sub-dial at 9 o’clock a no-correction zone is marked in red between 9PM and 3AM to indicate when the watch cannot be set if the user attempts to set the watch during this time but there is no risk of damaging the movement in the process the moon phase now features a realistic depiction of the Moon based on a NASA photograph Now that we’ve talked about the mechanics, it’s time to take a closer look at these new versions of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding – ref. 26674ST and 26674SG. And the least we can say is that, just like when AP updated the 15202ST to become the 16202ST most of the evolution is found inside the case and through the sapphire back There isn’t much difference between these new RO QP and the old models it might well be the recipe to create an icon the new movement has had its implications on the design and some specificities of the watch need explaining What we’re looking at is a pair of permanent collection models available either in the most classic combination possible for a Royal Oak – stainless steel and blue dial – or in a more luxurious but rather discreet version based on the brand’s latest alloy Dimensions and overall design are identical to the previous generation of Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding with a 41mm diameter and a thickness of 9.5mm you’ll see the same emblematic octagonal bezel with 6 white gold screw-shaped studs the classic combination of vertical brushed surfaces with polished bevels An even closer look reveals two important evolutions since the crown is now used to operate all the calendar functions there’s no need to rely on recessed correctors in the casebands not to mention a far more practical watch to use The other advantage of this evolution is water-resistance While the previous generation was rated at 20m – basically splashproof – this next-gen QP has a more comfortable water-resistance of 50m – and that without the slightest change to the thickness of the case In addition to the 26674ST in stainless steel, Audemars Piguet also introduces a solid gold edition, made in the highly appealing sand gold alloy unveiled last year its colour changes according to the light and has a delicate warmth but never feels too present or ostentatious luxurious watch that has a refined presence Talking about the dials – either in classic blue shades (PVD coating) or in sand gold tones (galvanic treatment) – the Grande Tapisserie pattern that’s a hallmark of the collection has been retained which are filled with luminescent material The blue model has white inscriptions for great contrast while the sand gold model features black printings for a more striking look Both have realistic representations of the Moon set against a starry blue sky The two new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding with calibre 7138 are released as part of the permanent collection – which doesn’t mean we’re talking about readily available watches AP is releasing two limited editions of 150 pieces each with a vintage Audemars Piguet signature on the moon phase and special engravings on the back (150 logo) The prices of the steel reference 26674ST.OO.1320ST.01 and the sand gold reference 26674SG.OO.1320SG.01 are respectively CHF 109,300 and CHF 130,000 (both incl. taxes). For more details, please visit www.audemarspiguet.com Love the quirky number 8 and how it changes from odd to even dates. As part of the new models released by AP for its 2025 collection is this watch – also a reference 26238CE – with an even blacker look And while initially we decided to call it the “Blacker-than-Black Beast” a watch immediately nicknamed The Beast – which simpler tracks on the sub-dials and AP-only signature at 3 o’clock What also sets it apart is its full monochromatic look Not only is the base of the dial – with its large squares connected by small crosses (a pretty cool pattern but all the elements are either black or dark grey – such as the blackened gold hands and markers is colder than the classic Black Beast with its particular old-school charm dial The rest of this new Black-on-Black Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph is familiar The 42mm x 15.3mm case is shared with the rest of the collection and is crafted entirely in black ceramic – for the case such as the rubber gasket between the case middle and the bezel the signature steel screws on the bezel and the caseback The bracelet is also mostly made of black ceramic the JLC base movement with a Dubois-Depraz chronograph module has been replaced with a modern in-house calibre an integrated automatic engine with a column wheel a vertical clutch system and a flyback function it packs 70 hours of power reserve and is wound by a 22k gold oscillating weight This new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph 42mm Black-on-Black Ceramic (reference 26238CE.OO.1300CE.02) will be part of the permanent collection, and the price is EUR 86,600. For more details, please visit www.audemarspiguet.com The blue that former CEO François-Henry Bennahmias always wanted is finally here and it's really freaking good How To Wear It The Cartier Tank Cintrée In-Depth Examining Value And Price Over Time With The ‘No Date’ Rolex Submariner Watches In The Wild The Road Through America, Episode 1: A Model Of Mass Production Audemars Piguet launched their eye-catching blue ceramic Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in a shade straight from the brightest blues in a box of Crayolas and with materials done in a way that had made a name for itself it was everything that Audemars Piguet was under the helm of then-CEO François-Henry Bennahmias The first blue ceramic case from Audemars Piguet. But then 2023 rolled around and, on the way into his retirement from AP, Bennahmias dropped a nugget of information in a Talking Watches he did with our own Ben Clymer: it wasn't the blue he wanted These are the new Royal Oaks in the brand's historic "Bleu Nuit the same color made iconic by the dials of the Jumbo Royal Oak The three new models – a Royal Oak Double Balance Openworked and two versions of the Royal Oak Offshore Self-winding Chronograph (in vintage and modern stylings) – launched last week in the middle of Watches and Wonders shortly after the brand's AP Social Club launches in early 2025 and during a trade show in which the brand doesn't present Chanel also dropped these curious and wild J12s with dark blue ceramic cases on the first day of Watches and Wonders but the brand says there's no link between its watch and Chanel's release and it's hard to tell if it's the same and differs only in finishing (and the finishing on AP's ceramic is far and away the best in the industry) the fact that AP and Chanel both hit the mark this year doesn't make AP's release less striking Chanel still don't hit the hype levels of Audemars Piguet by any stretch both brands have finished their cases differently Nuage 50 Royal Oaks are stone-cold stunners Since I've lead with the photos of the Double Balancier and Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph (in the more vintage styling but with the addition of the Mega-Tapisserie dial) twice I figured now is a good time to mention that the brand also released a version of the more diver-oriented modern design of Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph on strap with the same blue bezel but it follows in a line of other ceramic bezels they've done on the model in the past One of the things you'll notice about the new blue ceramic tone is that it shifts in light pretty dramatically You'll notice that shift in some photos depending on how I lit the photo (even if the color balance remained the same) it was pretty close to the image you see below but in iPhone videos or straight out of my camera (Nikon does like to punch up the colors) It's certainly not the same as the blue ceramic QP that came out in 2022 or Jean Arnault's custom blue ceramic Louis Vuitton Tambour the watch looks a bit more punchy than in reality (which might come as a relief if you've only seen iPhone images) The previous blue was so loud that it only fit a small percentage of buyers You basically had to be a rock star to own one (and even some of those would find it too loud) The new blue is reserved enough to pass for nearly black from a distance while being different enough to be special it shifts in color and goes from a rich dark blue to a more washed-out color depending on the quality and angle of the light hitting it But physics of light aside (and I can do a whole article on that if you want – I promise you don't) it'll feel much closer to the dark blue I think Bennahmias was aiming for The Double Balance Wheel Openworked (or Double Balancier) is the stand-out star – the kind of thing that I think most collectors will beg for The 41mm by 9.7mm case houses the brand's openworked self-winding caliber 3132 movement with 45 hours of power reserve The use of a second balance wheel and spring mounted on the same axis increases the mass and inertia two balance wheels present a drain on power but by tying them to the same balance staff the watch is more efficient and (theoretically) more accurate making this watch the most "traditional" color combination in ceramic currently The top surface of the bezel and the case of bracelet and case are brushed ceramic while the angled portions of the case are polished That's the common design language of the Royal Oak but I think people just easily dismiss the watches for "hype" and disregard how difficult finishing ceramic to a high degree is – let alone getting the right color you want And AP was very specific about matching the historic blue you see on their "Jumbo" Royal Oaks The watch features a titanium caseback ring and butterfly clasp for the bracelet my guess is that a ceramic caseback ring would fracture if screwed in to secure to the inner case structure (the front screw heads are just cosmetic) No matter how often I handle a ceramic watch They look like they should be heavier – a thick chunk of stone or something – but instead they're freakishly light but the weight and wearability remind me of titanium cases The new Double Balancier in blue ceramic (ref 15416CD) costs $101,100 which is a lot of money by any metric but the general concensus from the folks I talked to is that it feels like a fair price It's also in line with the black ceramic version of the watch The next version of the Royal Oak that will probably get the most attention is the Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph with the vintage-styled 6-9-12 dial layout The brand had re-released the "The Beast" (as the original using this design was known) in black ceramic in the past few years with the petite Tapisserie-dialed ref 26238CE with the "Mega Tapisserie" dial that carries over to this version You can see the two versions in the current lineup next to each other The dial layout evokes the Valjoux 7750 watches of that era even though the original "Beast" was powered by the Caliber 2126/2840 a Jaeger-LeCoultre-based movement with a Dubois-Dépraz chronograph module The current generation has the Audemars Piguet caliber 4404 column-wheel operated chronograph with flyback and date The movement has running seconds at 6 o'clock with a tachymeter scale on the rehaut at the edge of the dial it measures the larger 42mm by 15.3mm size with 100m of water resistance It's substantial in the way that's exactly the point for the Offshore It's substantial and noticeable just like it was when it became the coolest watch for rappers and celebrities to wear For a touch of nostalgia in a modern material The final watch bears mention because of the ceramic bezel but the second Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph fits far more in the collection for more modern newcomers to the brand who think less about history or watchmaking and more about style and wearability With a stainless steel case (43mm by 14.4mm and 100m of water resistance) and textured fabric strap (with quick change for the supplied rubber strap) instead of the ceramic bracelet the watch comes in as the least expensive option – $42,900 The movement is the caliber 4401 with 70 hours of power reserve I know I have a tendency to get excited about cool new things – I will admit to that Even after a crazy week at Watches and Wonders I think it might mean even more that the new releases struck me as much as they did – especially the new Double Balancier There are a few releases from AP that I think can outdo a "Jumbo" Royal Oak as a near-perfect watch but this watch below just might put up a fight For more information, visit Audemars Piguet. Introducing The Doxa Sub 200, Now With A Steel Bezel Introducing Seiko Prospex 1968 Heritage Diver’s GMT 60th Anniversary Edition SPB519 Watch Spotting The Watches & Fashion Of Met Gala 2025 Business News Rolex Will Raise U.S. Prices In Response To Tariffs Six Of The Coolest CPO Rolex Watches I Saw In London's Old Bond Street Rolex Boutique Reference Points The Cartier Tank Louis Introducing The Christopher Ward C12 'Loco' (Live Pics) Hands-On Tudor's Black Bay Pro Gets A Surprisingly Dramatic Facelift With An Opaline Dial If you wanted any further proof that Audemars Piguet has a hit on its hands with its new 150th anniversary Royal Oak look no further than the wrists of Mayer and Brady who were both seen wearing the brand-new piece this week A couple of months ago, Audemars Piguet launched a groundbreaking new perpetual calendar movement in time for its 150th anniversary it’s controlled entirely through the crown—there are no tiny pushers in the case sides and no miniscule corrector tool to potentially misplace You pull the crown out to successive positions to adjust various calendar information it engages different functions than on its way out (We know—all this sounds fairly nerdly and unexciting it features a gold-tone Grand Tappisserie dial with black indices as well as the classic Royal Oak integrated bracelet but the indications might not update properly.) The date numbers are all perfectly spaced—a difficult feat that requires different-sized teeth for each date increment within the date wheel Five years of careful development went into the Calibre 7138 Brady has earned several other notable AP references in the past so it comes as no surprise that he’d be among the first to snag this special QP Brady parted with a pièce unique Royal Oak in white gold with a diamond-set bezel and his name spelled out in calibré-cut and baguette-cut diamonds in the indices (The watch’s winding rotor also has Brady’s signature in it.) No stranger to QPs he’s also been spotted in a Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in blue ceramic as well as a Royal Oak Grande Complication The Calibre 7138 solves a problem—if you can call it that—that has long bothered serious watch heads. Its debut within three striking AP references, timed perfectly with the brand’s 150th birthday, was one of the biggest watch stories of the year, outshining many of the debuts at Watches & Wonders Where better to spot such a watch than on the wrist of one of the world’s biggest collectors (Here’s to hoping he releases a second watch using the new Calibre 7138!) this fun take on the Speedy features America’s favorite beagle in the 9 o’clock register and you’re presented with possibly the coolest non-exhibition caseback ever made Snoopy actually shoots across the scene as the chronograph is engaged and the Earth disc rotates once per minute A 14-year-old girl is “really shaken” after a naked man performing a sex act pulled up beside her in a beat-up van as she walked home from school made an appeal on a community social media page after searching for the man himself when his daughter came home distressed He said she got off the school bus at the Royal Oak end of Manukau Rd and was beginning her short walk home “She was followed by a man with shoulder-length hair driving an old “As he pulled up next to her she saw that he was naked and touching himself she was obviously panicking and running away.” The family has been living in the area for eight years and the incident was a first We’ve never experienced anything like this.” “I actually jumped in my car and then tried to look for the van or the guy The girl had been “shaken” and too upset to go to school the next day “My partner took her to school and dropped off her younger brother Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend confirmed police were investigating “a man doing an indecent act in the Epsom area” “A van was parked on Gladwin Rd at around 3.35pm when the male occupant began doing the act towards a student walking past.” The van began moving in the same direction as the student and was last seen travelling down Lewin Rd Friend said police would like to hear from anyone with further information about the van or its driver “It has been described as an older style van “The driver has been described as a Caucasian male The father didn’t think there were any “overt safety concerns” in the immediate area but the incident was particularly concerning as there were several schools in the area “I think this creep is just an opportunist I wouldn’t let a 14-year-old girl walk down Queen Street by herself in the afternoon.” He felt there was “not much” they could do other than contact police about the “opportunistic “Right now we probably don’t want to let the kids walk around by themselves [anymore] If you have information contact police on 105 using the reference number 250212/5501 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 Jaime Lyth is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald Lyth began working under the NZ Herald masthead in 2021 as a reporter for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei MI (WXYZ) — The ultimate glass art experience, Glass53 at the Habatat Galleries Complex in Royal Oak (4400 Fernlee featuring the finest glass artists from across the world joining together to show their latest works featuring 400 examples of stunning studio glass art with the artists in attendance is the highlight of the year for Habatat - the oldest and largest gallery in the world It is known as the premier event in the world of contemporary glass The public is invited to attend the celebration Glass 53 is once again adding live glass blowing demonstrations - thanks to Michigan glass artist Andrew Madvin and his Axiom Studio which is just down the block from Habatat visitors will have the unique opportunity to see the art of glass blowing in Axiom’s state-of-the-art hot glass studio and will be able to visit its adjoining AXG Gallery featuring works of Michigan glass artists For more information, visit habatat.com or call 248-554-0590 With the well-received new album The Crux released earlier this month Djo – the musical project of Joe Keery – embarked on the Back on You World Tour With the band’s sold-out run continuing in Detroit the hype was palpable: Interest in the show resulted in the Michigan stop moving up from Royal Oak Music Theatre to the Masonic Temple (roughly doubling the capacity for fans) with lines to enter the venue sprawling around the block Here are five moments that stood out from the show: Post Animal Preview New Tunes (With Keery) In the opening slot, Post Animal took the stage for an already-packed crowd. Keery notably played with the Chicago psych-rockers in an earlier stint, and it was recently revealed that he would be back in the fold for the band’s upcoming album Iron so it was fitting the band brought him out for their set The screams and cheers reached a fever pitch when Keery emerged and Post Animal really hit their stride by previewing new Iron track “Last Goodbye,” which was buoyed by strong vocal harmonies across the band Set closer “Dirtpicker” ended on a high note with its rollicking guitar riffs. Listening to Djo’s discography evokes a wide-ranging set of influences – from the likes of ’60s psychedelic rock to ’70s/’80s new wave and power pop to those genres’ modern descendants This broad sonic palette provided a dynamic backdrop for the band to bounce between sounds for a shape-shifting live performance from the skittering synths of “Runner” to the scuzzy riffs of “Gloom” to Keery’s exuberant power pop vocals of “Link” to the jaunty keys of “Charlie’s Garden.” The audience eagerly bounced and sang along to “Basic Being Basic,” swayed in a sea of illuminated cell phone lights on “Lonesome Is a State of Mind,” clapped in time with the grooving “Delete Ya,” and raucously cheered for the anthemic “Gap Tooth Smile.” Djo expanded their track recordings to sprawl into more extensive jams The sultry “Figure You Out” featured a squiggly guitar solo and shimmering keys; “Chateau (Feel Alright” impressed with its echoey psych rock especially in its fuzzy opening riff; and “Roddy” thrilled with the massive electronic breakdown in the track’s back half. The end of the main set was keyed by the lush acoustic guitar textures of “Potion,” with the band leading a clap/singalong the cheers once again ratcheted up to a deafening pitch The band returned with the lively riffs and strong vocal harmonies of “Back on You.” but one more?” Keery polled the crowd after the first track of the encore jumping along once more to scuzzy garage rocker “Flash Mountain,” with the Post Animal crew sharing the stage with Djo for a rambunctious finish to the night. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" which broke out at 2.44am in Bentleys Barber’s in Royal Oak A fire at Bentley's Barber shop on Manukau Rd in Royal Oak is being treated as arson Bentley’s Barber shop manager has been approached for comment A fire at Bentleys Barber's shop has been blamed on arsonists hurling Molotov cocktails through the window Firefighters on the scene of the fire overnight a blaze destroyed One Two Uppercuts barber shop in Manurewa The most recent fires come three years after a tense gang war between the Rebels and the King Cobras gangs where Molotov cocktails were hurled at rivalling businesses and homes The gang members also shot up homes and businesses during the turf war in 2021 While the most public attacks were the shooting and arson of a barber shop and tattoo parlour in Māngere and a reciprocal attack on a bar in Manukau the police have linked at least 15 incidents across the city to the gang war Several people were arrested in November 2021 during a spate of police stings across Auckland there is now a new and modern calibre 7138 But it’s not entirely the end of the old JLC-derived movement as AP had one last trick up its sleeve to celebrate its 150th anniversary: an openworked Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar (ref the 5134 is gone… but it has managed to survive in a stripped-down version in this new and impressive watch A screw-locked titanium crown ensures durability and glareproof sapphire crystals on both sides provide a generous view of the openworked movement The sapphire dial of this bold reference 26585XT features a brass blue inner bezel which hosts the week number indication with an adjacent minutes track clearly marked for precision The familiar perpetual calendar layout remains: the month and leap year indicators sit at 12 o’clock and the moon phase sub-dial at 6 – all in deep blue with white printed markings Blue-coloured “bathtub” hour and minute hands are treated with luminescent material to enhance legibility Several design cues pay tribute to AP’s historic openworked perpetual calendar pocket watch (Ref These include the rich blue tones of the sub-dials and inner bezel The stylized Audemars Piguet signature is a standout detail positioned across the astronomic moon phase sub-dial the JLC-derived calibre 5135 offers a 40-hour power reserve It has a suspended barrel and an openworked oscillating weight which moves along a peripheral ring with ruby rollers – reducing friction and enhancing longevity The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked 150th Anniversary (reference 26585XT.OO.1220XT.01) is worn on a titanium bracelet with mid links in palladium-based BMG and closed with a three-blade folding clasp. It is a limited edition of 150 pieces, and the price is CHF 175,000. For more details, please visit audemarspiguet.com one of the two ROO models for 2025 mixes black and green ceramic with titanium to produce a three-tone case complemented by a dark green dial A perfect platform to experiment with high-tech materials the ROO Rubens Barrichello Chronograph II of 2006 was the first watch to feature black ceramic case components AP went a step further and presented its first black ceramic case with the ROO Arnold Schwarzenegger Following the design upgrades and specs laid down by the 2021 ROO models the 43mm black ceramic case middle features the redesigned pushers nestled inside matte titanium structures that function as crown guards to ensure the 100m depth rating A novelty for this ROO is that the pushers have been crafted in green ceramic matching the screw-locked crown and octagonal bezel with its signature white gold screws Given the same high-end finishing as metal the high-tech ceramic components are hand-finished with satin-brushed surfaces and polished bevels the Méga Tapisserie pattern on the dial hosts contrasting black snailed counters at 3 6 and 9 o’clock and a black sloping inner bezel with a tachymeter scale The 18k white gold hands and hour markers are filled with beige luminescent material; the date window is tucked between 4 and 5 o’clock The sapphire caseback reveals components of AP’s calibre 4401 An automatic flyback chronograph with a column wheel and vertical clutch the movement delivers a robust 70-hour power reserve and is decorated with Côtes de Genève The 22k pink gold rotor is coated in a dark grey colour Fitted with an interchangeable strap system, the three-tone chronograph is paired with a dark green textured leather strap and comes with an additional black rubber strap for a sportier look. The price of the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ref. 26420CE is EUR 58,200. For more information, please visit audemarspiguet.com How is this better than any 2k – 3k ETA 7750 Audemars Piguet’s new Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar is a very clever piece of engineering an answer to a problem that’s been annoying watchmakers and collectors for decades as these watches are known (from the French are designed to faithfully track the date over leap-year cycles with some even accounting for the leap day to be skipped at the end of the century an ability that is somehow beguiling despite having almost no practical use at all Quite apart from the status symbol value these watches have (they’re reassuringly expensive) QPs talk to the way watches track time in fractions of a second but are built to last decades the purest antidote to built-in obsolescence available; they represent a level of patience and long-term thinking we all aspire to all that timeframe shifting comes at a cost – should these watches ever get left to run down or need a service or fall victim to restless fingers (and they will) That means interfering with a delicate complex of gears that are designed to make their stately evolutions using the minimum of energy; consider that one revolution of the month wheel is derived from 126 million ticks the answer has been to have various pushers (that need special tools) to let you change the day you can’t change the date or set the time for the hours around midnight And don’t even think about the loss of water-resistance all those pusher openings create Watchmakers from Patek Philippe downwards have been developing tweaks and workarounds to make things easier but Audemars Piguet’s new movement is the most complete answer yet – everything is adjustable the ‘how’ doesn’t get in the way all the cams and wheels doing the work are accommodated within a movement that’s a remarkably slender 4.1mm Which makes the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar a truly refreshing leap forward audemarspiguet.com escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox James Gurney has written on watches for over 25 years the UK’s first home-grown watch title one of the first watch fairs to focus on the end-consumer and is regarded as a leading horological voice contributing to news and magazine titles across the globe Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more Yet one watch that often gets overlooked in this discussion is the F77 line from Nivada, now known as Nivada Grenchen Here’s everything you need to know about it Nevada Gretchen’s absence from the integrated sports watches debate cannot best be blamed on a lack of historical provenance The Swiss watch brand’s roots date back to 1879 and the original F77 was first produced in 1977 However, the brand was also one of many watch companies that fell victim to the quartz crisis and lingered largely in obscurity for decades The result was while the Nivada name remained relevant with value-focused vintage buyers throughout that time the company’s obscured role in the new watch scene undoubtedly created a blind spot for the brand among younger watch enthusiasts Then, in 2020, Guillaume Laidet, a man with a Midas touch for watch brand revival, rebooted the brand the 38mm case is made entirely from 316L stainless steel It’s also slightly thinner at 12.20mm than the first F77 reboot references launched in 2022 the watch lugs have also been reworked to provide more bend to the bracelet addressing a common shortcoming of integrated sports watches that surprises many first-time wearers The slight change allows the watch to hug the wearer’s wrist more tightly But if integrated bracelets aren’t really your thing the F77 Mark II is also available with a velcro or black rubber strap Anyone interested in a bigger statement piece that’s still affordable may gravitate more toward the new F77 Mark II Gold It combines all of the improvements of its stainless steel sibling with an 18K yellow gold-plated case that’s guaranteed to catch attention Both Nivada Grenchen F77 Mark II references are now available from the brand’s website deliveries for the new model are expected to begin in early July 2025Save this storySaveSave this storySaveIt’s a testament to the greatness of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak that the brand can continue to iterate on it time and time again without the model ever feeling stale We’ve seen versions of the Gérald Genta-designed icon in stainless steel It’s been augmented with simple date displays and wildly complex tourbillons Everyone from Alyx’s Matthew Williams and John Mayer to Travis Scott and KAWS has remixed the sporty timepiece the brand has just unveiled its first big batch of releases for the year—and there are a bunch of enticing new Royal Oaks in the mix The new Royal Oaks improve on its most prestigious function These weren’t the only new Royal Oaks previewed by Audemars Piguet today The last is a special “150th anniversary” openworked edition of everyone’s favorite octagonal timepiece The design of the skeletonized dial and the rich blue shade on the subdials and inner bezel are both borrowed from a pocket watch in AP’s museum The archival pocketwatch that inspired the new openworked RO The Code 11.59 is still a major priority for AP AP debuted its more conventionally shaped (i.e and the line has steadily amassed new models and fans in the half-decade-plus since the brand has lined up a few more heavy hitters including one leveled up with the new QP function Perhaps the most impressive new version comes in at a very wearable 38 mm—while still managing to fit in a tourbillon at 6 o’clock Previous iterations of the 38-mm Codes were limited to just a date function The playbook reminds me of the one Patek Philippe deployed with its Nautilus Several years after that iconic watch’s debut PP slimmed it down to 37.5 mm and started turning it out in premium materials AP is shrinking the Code while upping its prestige The other three new Codes largely play with colors The stunner is the “Tuscany blue” dial—a deep and rich navy shade that will make James Cameron jealous while he develops the next Avatar The last two are crafted in stainless steel and feature various shades of gray on the dial and bezel Ain’t no party like an AP party because an AP party always has the best ceramics The material shows up again here on a pair of Royal Oak Offshores the beefier alternative to the standard RO The first is made in a classic hunter green while the other comes in a more standard black AP first released an all-black ceramic watch in 2011: a special-edition Royal Oak Offshore made in collaboration with Arnold Schwarzenegger EPA employees and elected officials gathered Saturday for a march and rally in Royal Oak The rally was both a celebration of the environment and a call to action from some who feel the climate is in crisis The rally began at the Farmers Market in downtown Royal Oak where several prominent activists and elected officials gave speeches Garlin Gilchrist addressed the crowd with an impassioned speech about the beauty of Michigan's natural resources and the duty Michiganders have to protect them the best place in the country to celebrate Earth Day because we are blessed with so many God-given natural resources here in the state of Michigan," Gilchrist said But with all of that blessing comes responsibility." Protests span borders: Michiganders show solidarity, rally with Canadians at major bridge crossings Gilchrist spoke about the state's environmental departments like EGLE "We are the help that we need to protect Michigan from the death and destruction that is coming at us from Washington," Gilchrist said "The last I heard was that the Trump administration is trying to cut $14 billion worth of resources and investment on clean energy solutions and environmental protections here in Michigan." That move by the Trump adminstration to cut $14 billion in environmental grants awarded by then-President Joe Biden was blocked in March by a federal judge The grants are still frozen as the case proceeds an EPA coordinator and AFGE union representative who works in Ann Arbor spoke about the pressure her agency feels under the Trump administration Your voices matter and your voices are so important to this environmental cause," Powers-Taylor said Rubin on the Riverfront: Lies and more lies as Detroit Riverfront embezzler William Smith learns fate The event in Royal Oak — which occurs yearly on the Saturday following Earth Day — was defined by that sentiment: It was a celebration of the environment, but also a call to action for residents and officials to do more to protect the climate. Amanda Costello, the lead organizer of Oakland County Earth Day, told the Free Press that Saturday's event was split between reverie and fear. "Every year, we celebrate our Earth," Costello said. "This year, that call to action is really important though." Similar to years past, the event also featured an "Earth Fair" inside the Farmers Market after the rally and march. This year, though, Costello said the fair was focused on encouraging attendees to take action through volunteering and calling their elected officials. Organizations like the Sierra Club and the Citizens' Climate Lobby had stations, while petitioners carried thick sheets of paper and clipboards. "Inside the fair, we have stations for people to call their legislators, sign up to volunteer or get involved in a way that feels approachable to them," Costello said. After the speeches, the crowd marched through downtown Royal Oak carrying signs calling for more protection of the environment, before entering the fair inside the Farmers Market. Travis Schuyler, an indigenous member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames White Earth Ojibwe, spoke to the crowd and reminded them of what he feels Earth Day is about. "At this march today, I hope you remember that stewardship, true stewardship, is not just about recycling or voting," Schuyler said. "It's about how we live and how we listen and how we honor our responsibilities to each other and this land." Contact Liam Rappleye: LRappleye@freepress.com Volume 8 - 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.650139 Despite many shipwrecks containing oil there is a paucity of studies investigating their impact on surrounding environments This study evaluates any potential effect the World War II shipwreck HMS Royal Oak is having on surrounding benthic sediments in Scapa Flow HMS (Her Majesty’s Ship) Royal Oak sank in 1939 subsequently leaked oil in the 1960s and 1990s and is estimated to still hold 697 tonnes of fuel oil along a 50–950 m cruciform transect away from the shipwreck Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) revealed low concentrations (205.91 ± 50.15 μg kg–1 of dry sediment) which did not significantly differ with either distance from the shipwreck or sediment depth PAH concentrations were well below the effects-range low (ERL) for the OSPAR (Oslo/Paris convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic) maritime area indicating PAHs were pyrogenic rather than petrogenic analysis of sediment microbiomes revealed no significant differences in bacterial community structure with distance from the shipwreck with extremely low levels of obligate hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (OHCB; 0.21% ± 0.54%) Both lines of evidence suggest that sampled sediments are not currently being impacted by petrogenic hydrocarbons and show no long-term impact by previous oil-spills from HMS Royal Oak Whilst any visible oil leakage from HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow has subsided it is unknown whether there is a legacy of hydrocarbon contamination in the sediments Figure 1. 950 m cruciform transect (where those sediments sampled further away act as controls) centred on HMS Royal Oak shipwreck (approximation, centre, red), labels refer to sample codes as detailed in Supplementary Table 1 A safety boundary (grey oval) around HMS Royal Oak meant sediment sampling commenced 50 m from the shipwreck This study evaluates historic impact of oil contamination from the shipwreck HMS Royal Oak on the surrounding benthic microbial communities The objective of this study was to determine whether fuel oil from HMS Royal Oak displays elevated concentrations in surrounding benthic sediments by determining both the concentration and source of sediment PAHs over a 950 m radius of the shipwreck (where those sediments sampled further away act as controls) 16S rRNA gene qPCR and amplicon libraries were used to determine any effects of the shipwreck on sediment bacterial community composition and to quantify any hydrocarbon-degrading or sentinel bacteria associated with oil pollution There were no signs of oil contamination during the survey either visible on the sea surface or in the sediment samples collected a calibration check [(CRM) HS-6] and a blank were analysed with each sample batch (∼four samples) the limit of detection was 0.1 μg kg–1 dry weight sediment for each PAH compound/class and the extraction efficiency was measured at 99% including compounds with both petrogenic and combustion sources This suite comprised naphthalene and the C1-C3 methylnaphthalenes dibenzothiophene and C1-C3 methyldibenzothiophenes benzo[ghi]perylene and dibenz[a,h]anthracene is calculated by the proportion of low molecular weight (2− and 3-ring) and alkylated (C1-C3 methylnaphthalenes The % combustion is the remaining proportion of PAHs within the sample Inspection of standard curves showed that all assays produced satisfactory efficiency (74%) and R2 values (>0.99) OTUs were discarded prior to statistical analyses along with any OTUs that had <70% identity with any sequence in the RDP database Total PAH concentrations (mean ± SE over 950 m transects (where those sediments sampled further away act as controls) in four different directions from HMS Royal Oak shipwreck; located in Scapa Flow Proportion of perylene to 5-ringed aromatics (A) and the Pyrogenic Index [PI: Σ(3− to 6-ring EPA priority PAHs) / Σ(5 alkylated PAH series)] over a 950 m cruciform transect (“Distance”; where those sediments sampled further away act as controls) Red lines (A,B) represent the threshold at which PAHs are considered petrogenic Blue lines (C) represent the points below which PAHs are considered petrogenic (0.01 = lighter refined products and most crude oils and 0.01–0.05 heavy oil and heavy fuel oils) significantly greater than the thresholds for petrogenic PAHs (coef considering the results of all three calculations and the fact none of these results were significantly different over distance from the shipwreck it can be assumed PAHs detected within sampled sediments around HMS Royal Oak were pyrogenic and not from oil that has historically leaked from the shipwreck of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in sediments close to the shipwreck compared to background levels (i.e. sediments sampled further away from the shipwreck) would indicate that any oil-contamination could be rapidly degraded providing additional evidence that sediments localised around the ship were not currently being contaminated with oil suggesting no evidence of oil-related community changes and adaption within the sediments NMDS (non-metric multidimensional scaling) ordination (stress = 0.10) based on clustered bacterial 16S rRNA OTUs at a 97% similarity threshold displaying the effect of depth (cm) on bacterial community composition (R2 = 0.15 means that assessments of anaerobic marine environments with the EIHE is much more problematic analysis of sediments around HMS Royal Oak could potentially underestimate biosignatures for hydrocarbon presence the abundance of missing anaerobic hydrocarbon-degrading sulphate-reducing bacteria was calculated separately and constituted 15% of overall sulphate-reducing bacteria Whilst these hydrocarbon-degrading sulphate-reducing bacteria may have been utilising buried pyrogenic PAHs there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in abundance with distance from the shipwreck and a low abundance of OHCB and other genera associated with hydrocarbon-degrading (both aerobic and anaerobic) suggest an absence of hydrocarbons required to support the growth of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria The low levels of sediment PAHs around the HMS Royal Oak were deemed to originate from pyrogenic sources Bacterial community analysis also revealed extremely low abundances of OHCB and other potential aerobic or anaerobic oil-degrading genera both within the EIHE and those not included Both lines of evidence therefore suggest that the sampled sediments (50–950 m from HMS Royal Oak) show no impacts from current oil leaks there is no evidence of impact by the reported historical oil-spills by HMS Royal Oak There remains the possibility of more localised pollution within a 50 m radius but this region was not sampled in this study due to a 50 m safety boundary it would infer that any pollution would be highly localised to the immediate vicinity around the shipwreck and this study confirms minimal impacts from leaking oil to the wider surrounding environment The datasets presented in this study can be found in online repositories The names of the repository/repositories and accession number(s) can be found in materials and methods in the main manuscript GT wrote the manuscript/Supplementary Material, data analysis/visualisation, and performed the molecular work. SB, PM, and RB conducted the sampling campaign. CH performed the analytical chemistry. FG, JB, BM, and TM secured funding. All authors reviewed the manuscript, Supplementary Information The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest The work was funded by the Ministry of Defence Salvage and Marine Operations Wreck Management Programme We would like to acknowledge and thank the National Environmental Research Council (NERC) (NE/L002582/1) Fisheries and Aquaculture Science for access and funding of this work We would like to thank John Green and Tania Cresswell-Maynard from the University of Essex for providing technical support The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.650139/full#supplementary-material A review on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: source CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Anaerobic oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons to CO2 by a new type of sulfate-reducing bacterium CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Gas-particle partitioning and seasonal variation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the atmosphere of Zonguldak Are drivers of root-associated fungal community structure context specific A state-of-the-art model for spatial and stochastic oil spill risk assessment: a case study of oil spill from a shipwreck Google Scholar Origin and bioavailability of PAHs in the Mediterranean Sea from mussel and sediment records Package “Maps”: Draw Geographical Maps Google Scholar Apcluster: an R package for affinity propagation clustering Analysis of deepwater shipwrecks in the gulf of Mexico artificial reef effect of six world war ii shipwrecks CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Clark, D. R. (2019). ecolFudge. Available online at: https://github.com/Dave-Clark/ecolFudge (accessed October 1 Google Scholar Central role of dynamic tidal biofilms dominated by aerobic hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria and diatoms in the biodegradation of hydrocarbons in coastal mudflats “Anaerobic Hydrocarbon-Degrading Deltaproteobacteria,” in Taxonomy Genomics and Ecophysiology of Hydrocarbon-Degrading Microbes An analysis of the one-dimensional steady-state glow discharge CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar De La Torre-Roche Soil-borne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in El Paso Texas: analysis of a potential problem in the United States/Mexico border region Mangrove bacterial diversity and the impact of oil contamination revealed by pyrosequencing: bacterial proxies for oil pollution “Microbial community analysis by single-amplicon high-throughput next generation sequencing: data analysis – from raw output to ecology,” in Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology Protocols Nogales (Berlin: Springer Protocols Handbooks) an Aromatic hydrocarbon- degrading bacterium from marine sediments UCHIME improves sensitivity and speed of chimera detection Relative bioavailability and toxicity of fuel oils leaking from World War II shipwrecks Open software for biologists: from famine to feast Anaerobic degradation of naphthalene by a pure culture of a novel type of marine sulphate-reducing bacterium Alkane biodegradation genes from chronically polluted subantarctic coastal sediments and their shifts in response to oil exposure Sources and geochemical constraints of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments and mussels of two Northern Irish Sea-loughs Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria enriched by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill identified by cultivation and DNA-SIP The impact of the deepwater horizon blowout on historic shipwreck-associated sediment microbiomes in the northern Gulf of Mexico Development of mass blooms of photosynthetic bacteria on sheltered beaches in Scapa Flow CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Hill, P. (2019). Managing the Wreck of HMS Royal Oak. Available online at: https://spillcon.com/2019/Resources/Downloads/Speakers/Polly-Hill.pdf (accessed August 10 Google Scholar Hope, R. M. (2013). Rmisc: Ryan Miscellaneous. Available online at: https://cran.r-project.org/package=Rmisc (accessed August 10 Google Scholar Effects of different water seasons on the residual characteristics and ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from changdang lake paletteer: Comprehensive Collection of Color Palettes Google Scholar Overall evaluations of carcinogenicity: an updating of IARC Monographs volumes 1 to 42 Google Scholar Single-cell genomics reveals a diverse metabolic potential of uncultivated Desulfatiglans-related deltaproteobacteria widely distributed in marine sediment Joshi, N., and Fass, J. (2011). Sickle: A Sliding-Window, Adaptive, Quality-based Trimming Tool for FastQ Files (Version 1.33) [Software]. Available at https://github.com/najoshi/sickle Google Scholar ‘ggpubr’: “ggplot2” Based Publication Ready Plots R package version 0.3.0 Google Scholar Methods for analysis for hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in marine samples Google Scholar PREMIAM – Pollution Response in Emergencies – Marine Impact Assessment and Monitoring: Post-Incident Monitoring Guidelines Google Scholar Evaluation of general 16S ribosomal RNA gene PCR primers for classical and next-generation sequencing-based diversity studies Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria and the bacterial community response in Gulf of Mexico beach sands impacted by the deepwater horizon oil spill Evaluating the needs of risk assessment methods of potentially polluting shipwrecks Expert elicitation for deriving input data for probabilistic risk assessment of shipwrecks Bayesian updating in a fault tree model for shipwreck risk assessment A fault tree model to assess probability of contaminant discharge from shipwrecks Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in shellfish affected by the Sea Empress oil spill in Wales in 1996 Microbial degradation of hydrocarbons in the environment CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Metabolic activations of polycyclic hydrocarbons - Structure-activity relationships Google Scholar Analysis of the bacterial communities in the waterlogged wooden cultural relics of the Xiaobaijiao No 1 shipwreck via high-throughput sequencing technology High-resolution record of pyrogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon deposition during the 20th century Microbial community analysis and biodeterioration of waterlogged archaeological wood from the Nanhai No the bacterial community structure of hydrocarbon-polluted marine environments as the basis for the definition of an ecological index of hydrocarbon exposure Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the environment: environmental fate and transformation CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Marine, B. (2010). Royal Oak Oil Removal Programme. Available online at: https://www.briggsmarine.com/projects/royal-oak-removal-programme/ (accessed August 10 Google Scholar Marine crude-oil biodegradation: a central role for interspecies interactions “Real-Time PCR approaches for analysis of hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial communities,” in Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology Protocols Fernandez (Berlin: Springer Protocols Handbooks) Potentially polluting wrecks in Marine waters Google Scholar Sunken WWII shipwrecks of the Pacific and East Asia: the need for regional collaboration to address the potential marine pollution threat historic shipwreck preservation and the Deepwater Horizon spill Google Scholar National Toxicology Program (2011) Google Scholar Petroleum oil and mercury pollution from shipwrecks in Norwegian coastal waters BayesHammer: bayesian clustering for error correction in single-cell sequencing “Assembling genomes and mini-metagenomes from highly chimeric reads,” in Research in Computational Molecular BiologyLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics) Google Scholar OSPAR Commission (2009) Agreement on CEMP Assessment Criteria for the QSR 2010 Google Scholar OSPAR Commission (2017) Status and Trends in the Concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Sediment Google Scholar Pedersen, T. L. (2019). patchwork: The Composer of Plots. Cran. Available online at: https://cran.r-project.org/package=patchwork (accessed August 10 Google Scholar ggraph: An Implementation of Grammar of Graphics for Graphs and Networks Google Scholar Sedimentary record of anthropogenic and biogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in San Francisco Bay CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar and potential toxicological significance of PAHs in the surface sediments of the Meiliang Bay R Development Core Team (2011) R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing Vienna: R Foundation for Statistical Computing CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Anaerobic microbial degradation of hydrocarbons: from enzymatic reactions to the environment Complete oxidation of toluene under strictly anoxic conditions by a new sulfate-reducing bacterium Coastal Cells in Scotland: Cell 10 - Orkney Scottish Natural Heritage Research Survey and Monitoring Report No Google Scholar Microbial community and metagenome dynamics during biodegradation of dispersed oil reveals potential key-players in cold Norwegian seawater VSEARCH: a versatile open source tool for metagenomics Science for stewardship: multidisciplinary research on USS Arizona Isolation and characterization of a sulfate-reducing bacterium that anaerobically degrades alkanes Origin of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coastal marine sediments: case studies in Cotonou (Benin) and Aquitaine (France) Areas Simultaneous DNA-RNA extraction from coastal sediments and quantification of 16S rRNA genes and transcripts by real-time PCR Bacterial community legacy effects following the agia zoni II Oil-Spill Diversité des systèmes alcane hydroxylase dans l’environnement Laminated microbial ecosystems on sheltered beaches in Scapa Flow CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Occurrence and possible sources of perylene in marine sediments - a review CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Naïve Bayesian classifier for rapid assignment of rRNA sequences into the new bacterial taxonomy Diversity and abundance of oil-degrading bacteria and alkane hydroxylase (alkB) genes in the subtropical seawater of xiamen Island “Oil and petroleum product fingerprinting analysis by gas chromatographic techniques,” in Chromatographic Analysis of the Environment Development of oil hydrocarbon fingerprinting and identification techniques CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Quantitative characterization of PAHs in burn residue and soot samples and differentiation of pyrogenic PAH1 from petrogenic PAHs - The 1994 mobile burn study Forensic differentiation of biogenic organic compounds from petroleum hydrocarbons in biogenic and petrogenic compounds cross-contaminated soils and sediments Forensic source differentiation of petrogenic and biogenic hydrocarbons in Canadian oil sands environmental samples hydrocarbon-degrading sulfate-reducing bacteria isolated from marine sediment and emended description of the genus Desulfosarcina “Anaerobic Hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms: an overview,” in Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology Microbial mats on the orkney islands revisited: microenvironment and microbial community composition Cowplot: Streamlined Plot Theme and Plot Annotations for ggplot2 Google Scholar ggtext: Improved Text Rendering Support for “ggplot2” Google Scholar Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments around England and Wales and their possible biological significance PAHs in the Fraser River basin: a critical appraisal of PAH ratios as indicators of PAH source and composition Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in rivers and estuaries in Malaysia: a widespread input of petrogenic PAHs McIlwaine PSO and McKew BA (2021) Evaluation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Pollution From the HMS Royal Oak Shipwreck and Effects on Sediment Microbial Community Structure Copyright © 2021 Thomas, Bolam, Brant, Brash, Goodsir, Hynes, McGenity, McIlwaine and McKew. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Boyd A McKew, Ym95ZC5tY2tld0Blc3NleC5hYy51aw== Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish Deftly crafted and smoked briskets and other barbecue fare will no longer be churned out of the smoker at a Royal Oak restaurant After 15 years on Third Street in Royal Oak The popular barbecue joint announced on its Facebook page that its last day of service will be Easter Sunday The owners wrote that their lease is expiring and “renewing is just not affordable.” “We have loved every brisket and rack of ribs that we have smoked on our Oyler,” the Facebook post said Chin's Chop Suey: Long-standing tiki-themed restaurant in Livonia to close its doors Special menus and buffets: Metro Detroit restaurants welcome Easter diners While stating the closing is “with great sadness,” the owners thanked its many barbecue fans and guests for their support and Lockhart’s is a full-service spot known for its slow-smoked Texas-style barbecue meats paired with sides of creamy mac and cheese and coleslaw Its specialties include its smoked and tender beef brisket Lockhart’s was also noted for its Michigan craft beer offerings and craft cocktails the space underwent an extensive renovation on the lower level that included adding two custom bars and a space for private events to accommodate up to 80 people when its last offerings will be an Easter brunch buffet service The brunch is $35 for adults and $15 for kids and includes a brisket carving station Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Was this a unique piece or would we get an Audemars Piguet x KAWS collab the newest Audemars Piguet collab is Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Companion” released in a limited edition of 250 pieces One of the most popular figures of contemporary art and design, Brian Donnelly, known as KAWS started out as a graffiti artist in New Jersey Pop art and culture permeate his singular universe blurring the lines between product design and art KAWS has achieved tremendous success through collaborations with diverse brands from high-end to more affordable with for instance Air Jordan he has also built an image and presence on social media with no fewer than 4.4 million followers on Instagram at the time of writing this article blending innovative technical solutions with avant-garde design The first thing to grab your eyes here is the “Companion” inside its 43mm case With his face and hands pressed against the sapphire crystal it creates an immediate connection with the outside world beyond its reach And it singularly encapsulates the emotional sense of isolation characteristic of KAWS companions… Just below its skull head with X eyes a one-minute tourbillon further breathes life into the miniature 3D character that is mounted directly on the sunburst mainplate The Companion’s contrasting textures and shades are echoed by the finishes of the angular case The crown is made of black ceramic and the slots of the screws on the bezel are cut in KAWS’ emblematic X shape To ensure an unobstructed view of the familiar character Audemars Piguet has developed a new movement that relegates the hours and minutes indication at its periphery with two travelling superimposed triangular indices driven by visible gear wheels These are crafted in titanium and in order to tell them apart the minute hand is openworked The markers and hands feature luminescent material with blue emission for enhanced legibility in the dark This new hand-wound AP2979 Tourbillon calibre ticks at 3Hz and comes with a 72-hour power reserve It is also visible via the sapphire case back with an original black-PVD “padded” finish inspired by KAWS’ universe and a ratchet wheel featuring 4 spokes to reproduce KAWS’ trademark X The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Companion comes with a light grey calfskin strap embossed with a textile effect as well as a spare slate grey calfskin strap. The click-and-release interchangeable strap system introduced in the ROC in 2023 allows you to swap your strap in seconds without tools The watch is secured to the wrist by a triple titanium folding buckle Such collaborations are always a bit of a surprise If I am rather conservative when it comes to the watches I wear I do like this Audemars Piguet x KAWS Royal Oak And not just because it is “MONOCHROME” grey The way KAWS’ singular universe has been translated into the ROC is certainly intriguing to me The watch will undoubtedly provoke some negative reactions or “anti-establishment” grumbling. Like it or not, these hype collabs are also an interesting way for Audemars Piguet – and watchmaking in general – to engage with a new clientele it is admittedly on the large side but it wears more comfortably than the dimensions suggest thanks to the use of lightweight titanium The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Companion is released in a limited edition of 250 pieces. It retails for CHF 200,000 exc. taxes. For more information, please visit AudemarsPiguet.com ana DT re-elected: it’s the end of the world I don’t know what they’re thinking but I’m sure there are 250 guys out there who would be overexcited to get one I don’t know what broader cultures they connect to but skulls are popular in ultra expensive watches Perhaps the pedo elites that might buy these ugly watches are thirsty for more blood The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is arguably the most iconic sports watch ever made it’s the merging of several unique details — the hexagonal bezel the tapisserie dial — that make the Royal Oak so memorable Watches and Wonders Geneva: The watch world’s biggest release party may be over but the year in horology has just begun. Catch up on all the key novelties from Rolex, Panerai, Patek Philippe and more AP’s flagship watch has come a long way since the original Gérald Genta-designed version hit the market in 1972 with countless variations on the original now existing in various sizes in honor of the brand’s 150th anniversary this year AP has rolled out a trio of new Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore models that utilize one of the original model’s most notable features in a unique new way The original inspiration for the color was the night sky above the Vallée de Joux the birthplace of Swiss watchmaking and the home of Audemars Piguet “Bleu Nuit” directly translates to “Night Blue” but is more commonly understood to mean “Midnight Blue.” It took AP several years to perfectly match the ceramic’s shade to the iconic dial color While Royal Oaks are available in myriad dial colors the model will always be associated with the “Bleu Nuit that association is dialed up to 11 thanks to these new ceramic cases Whether due to its complexity or the enthusiasm surrounding the first Royal Oak model Nuage 50’ hue has since become as iconic as the timepiece itself The three watches featuring the “Bleu Nuit Nuage 50” ceramic consist of two Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronographs and one Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked is a 42mm automatic chronograph in stainless steel featuring a bezel crown and pushers in the new midnight blue ceramic 4401 movement and features a méga tapisserie dial in the same classic shade as the ceramic components The watch comes with interchangeable leather and rubber straps also color-matched to the ceramic and dial Last is the only true Royal Oak of the three: the reference 15416CD.OO.1225CD.01 Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked Also boasting a case and full bracelet made of ceramic in “Bleu Nuit Nuage 50,” this 41mm Royal Oak features an openworked dial with pink gold hands and indices The skeletonized dial shows off the automatic Cal 3132 and its innovative double balance wheel setup the intricacy of the dial and the abundance of ceramic involved this model tops out the new collection at $101,100 By translating the iconic “Bleu Nuit Nuage 50” colorway to ceramic cases and bracelets Audemars Piguet has added yet another chapter to the ongoing story of the Royal Oak Here’s hoping the material eventually makes its way to the “Jumbo” Extra-Thin with a matching tapisserie dial says his Royal Oak location has been serving customers for 20 years but proposed changes to parking in the city could force him to close which gives customers the option of take-out or delivery relies heavily on its parking lot for customer access Hear more from John Spreitzer in the video player below: "We have roughly 750 cars in and out on a Friday night alone between pickups and delivery drivers," Spreitzer said The Royal Oak City Commission met on Monday night to discuss improvements to Rochester Road planned for 2026 would affect the area from 13 Mile Road to 14 Mile Road and includes converting some parking lots to green spaces City Manager Joe Gacioch says the project addresses larger environmental concerns Detroit metro has a stormwater issue — I think we've seen that over the past decade with multiple flooding incidents we look at the big picture there," Gacioch said While the city recommends businesses use parking behind their buildings Spreitzer explained that his back lot is already dedicated to his 14 delivery drivers which would force customers to park on nearby residential streets This potential overflow has nearby residents concerned as well "I don't want anymore parking on these narrow side streets It does not make any sense whatsoever," said Tina Gammon expressed mixed feelings about the proposal "I like the idea of it being a green space but I don't like the idea from a convenience standpoint because this lot here already is very small," Perzigian said Spreitzer has placed a sign reading "Help Us Keep Our Parking Spaces" in his shop window Gacioch maintains that the city is willing to work with affected business owners and so we'll have those one-on-one conversations I certainly respect the business needs," Gacioch said Spreitzer remains hopeful that a compromise can be reached "I'm hoping the city will come to terms with us something that will allow us to keep the parking here and do business," Spreitzer said This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy ROYAL OAK, Mich. – In a meeting Monday night (April 28), the Royal Oak City Council passed a plan to enter licensing agreements with businesses to transform parking areas into green spaces. The affected area is on Rochester Road between 13 Mile Road and 14 Mile Road. Businesses in the area, like Green Lantern Pizza, were worried about the plan at first. They were concerned about limited parking when the shop gets busy. However, the plan passed with a unanimous vote. The city aims to work with businesses and property owners to find a solution that will work for everyone. Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Hannah Music is an alumna of Oakland University and has been with Local 4 since March 2024. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Audemars Piguet; Collage: Gabe ConteSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products featured on GQ are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers completed the most shocking trade in NBA history The swap saw the Lakers land yet another generational hooper in the 25-year-old Dončić Dončić came to the press conference dressed on his best behavior with a grey sweater and white button-up but there was a small nod to his new team’s gold-and-purple On Dončić’s wrist was a yellow-gold version of Audemars Piguet’s iconic Royal Oak The team behind Colombian restaurant Rosita’s Treats has had a busy year so far owners Patrick and Rosandys Henderson expanded from their Shelby Township restaurant at 48770 Van Dyke to a market with groceries and grab-and-go snacks in downtown Utica Rosita’s Treats branches into Oakland County with a second sit-down restaurant inside Café Muse “We have been looking for a second location that has more walking traffic and in a downtown area,” Patrick Henderson told The Detroit News adding that in addition Colombian dishes and a full bar the Royal Oak spot will also have Latin dance lessons and live music The Hendersons will host a soft opening in Royal Oak at 6 p.m. Friday for $50 per person with a special menu and live music. Advance tickets are available at rositastreats.com — click on “order now” for the purchase option dancing and karaoke at the Shelby Township location The space inside Cafe Muse where Rosita's Treats will operate was formerly occupied by Mexican restaurant Cafe de Olla. Owner and chef Ara Sotelo tells The News she's relocating to Ferndale, with more details to come. AP has decided to dig into the archives again – this time experimenting with a new full blue ceramic This new model is called “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50” and is simultaneously launched on three references across the Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore collections The striking midnight blue shade is inspired by the night sky of the Vallée de Joux — the birthplace of Audemars Piguet which incidentally should be on your bucket list to visit as you can’t get more Swiss than there this so-called new shade of blue is actually vintage It was developed back in 1972 by Geneva dial-maker Stern to adorn the dial of the first Royal Oak (model 5402) by adding black pigment to the protective varnish — and pouring that black colour in the lacquer produced a ‘cloud effect’ chemical reaction as the shade varies depending on the duration and temperature of the galvanic bath so nowadays AP artisans rely on a more high-tech process called PVD to ensure a homogenous colour verging on black yet revealing its true identity to the keen eye — a deliberate ambiguity that is precisely AP’s point this nearly-black ceramic is a calculated manoeuvre; by curtailing the production of its true black counterpart thus protecting secondary market prices and ensuring that boutique sales remain as coveted as ever,” says Liu "In this elegant dance between primary and secondary markets by offering a hue that straddles the line between familiar and novel “AP can gently reassure the new clientele: ‘We did not assign you the old black the new iteration – nearly indistinguishable and equally versatile.’ And to the loyal patrons it proffers a tantalising invitation: ‘Embrace the difference and allow your collection to flourish with a fresh variant.’ A masterstroke of strategy Watch collector Norman Seck agrees about the colour “That hue of blue does it very well for me,” he says The brand news babies (a 41mm Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked and a 42mm and 43mm Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronographs) join the black green and brown hues already available in the collection applying this particular shade of blue to ceramic was no easy feat “The skeletonised dial is a bold technical and aesthetic choice revealing the watch’s inner workings in a way that’s as daring as it is beautiful This release is proof that AP continues to push boundaries and stay at the forefront of innovation in the luxury watch world." One thing is for sure about these – they've got Ed Sheeran’s name written all over them.