With the newly announced RD#2 Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin (the thinnest self-winding Quantième Perpétuel on the market today), the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak collection has proven itself once again that it is more than just a pretty face. Audemars Piguet’s latest novelties at SIHH 2018 is bursting with colour and contrast, vibrant with new ideas, material combinations and design features.
The Royal Oak RD#2, which took five years to develop is now the world’s thinnest selfwinding perpetual calendar at just 6.30 mm thick, marks a new watchmaking record, the latest in a long line of world firsts for the Manufacture. Amongst that, what also caught our eye at SIHH 2018 is the 45mm Royal Oak Offshare Tourbillon Chronograph, as well as the Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin particularly in the 18-carat pink gold and blue dial variant.
Celebrating 25 years of the Royal Oak Offshore
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Audemars Piguet is issuing a re-edition inspired by the 1993 model, incorporating all the knowledge and techniques of 2018 while remaining faithful to the timeless design of the original. This is accompanied by two new limited series of the Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph: one in stainless steel and one in 18-carat pink gold.
The Royal Oak Offshore collection appeared as a larger, more rugged sibling of the Royal Oak in 1993. Since then, it has won a solid global fan base and has become a platform for innovation, constantly evolving into many different versions.
The story of the Royal Oak Offshore since its launch in 1993 is an uninterrupted flow of new ideas in form, function and, above all, materials. More than 120 references of the 42 mm Royal Oak Offshore have been launched over the years in a range of materials including titanium, forged carbon, gold and platinum. The 2018 celebratory re-edition remains faithful to the original, with its stainless steel case, its blue rubber crown and pushpieces, the signature blue dial with “Petite Tapisserie” pattern and a steel bracelet with AP folding clasp. And safely within, the selfwinding 3126/3840 calibre that incorporates 25 years of horological upgrades and improvements.
Faithful to the original creative essence: stainless steel, signature blue dial, “Petite Tapisserie” pattern with blue rubber crown and pushpieces
Spot the difference: unlike previous re-editions, the caseback features an engraved “Royal Oak Offshore” logo in the centre with the word “AUTOMATIC” underneath
Technical Specifications
MOVEMENT
Selfwinding manufacture Calibre 3126/3840
Total diameter 29.92 mm (13 ¼ lignes)
Total thickness 7.16 mm
Number of jewels 59
Number of parts 365
Minimal guaranteed power reserve 50 h
Frequency of balance wheel 3 Hz (=21,600 vibrations/hour)
CASE
42mm stainless steel case, glareproofed sapphire crystal, caseback engraved with the “Royal Oak Offshore” logo in the centre and the word “AUTOMATIC”, blue rubber-clad pushpieces and screw-locked crown, water-resistant to 100 m
DIAL
Blue dial with “Petite Tapisserie” pattern, blue counters, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, blue inner bezel
BRACELET
Stainless steel bracelet with AP folding clasp
FUNCTIONS
Chronograph, hours, minutes, small seconds and date
REFERENCE
26237ST.OO.1000ST.01
The Royal Oak Offshare Tourbillon Chronograph
The Royal Oak Offshore collection strides into the future with two new series (one in stainless steel and one in 18-carat pink gold) each limited to 50 pieces, that reimagine the Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph. The 45 mm case – a first for the Royal Oak Offshore – gives these pieces a very robust feel. It houses a brand-new technical movement design that embodies Audemars Piguet’s expertise and bold approach. Used previously in Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronographs, the movement has been entirely reimagined exclusively for the occasion. With a new architectural construction featuring sandblasted titanium bridges and satin-brushed chamfered edges, the movement looks as if it were suspended from the bezel.
An optical illusion: the movement appears to be suspended from the innovative openworked bezel
Optimised ergonomics: the caseback is curved for a highly comfortable fit
New construction: sandblasted titanium bridges and satin-brushed chamfered edges
Letting in the light: the movement is exposed to the maximum to allow light to pass through the piece before hitting the sapphire caseback
Technical Specifications
MOVEMENT
Hand-wound manufacture Calibre 2947
Total diameter 39.78 mm (17 ½ lignes)
Total thickness 11.60 mm
Number of jewels 30
Number of parts 353
Minimal guaranteed power reserve 173 h
Frequency of balance wheel 3 Hz (=21,600 vibrations/hour)
CASE
45mm, 18-carat pink gold case, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, pink gold bezel, black ceramic screw-locked crown and pushpieces, sandblasted pink gold pushpiece guards, water-resistant to 100 m
DIAL
Black dial, pink gold hands with luminescent coating
BRACELET
Black rubber strap with 18-carat pink gold pin buckle
FUNCTIONS
Tourbillon, chronograph, 30-minute counter, seconds counter, hours and minutes
REFERENCE
26421OR.OO.A002CA.01
MOVEMENT
Hand-wound manufacture Calibre 2947
Total diameter 39.78 mm (17 ½ lignes)
Total thickness 11.60 mm
Number of jewels 30
Number of parts 353
Minimal guaranteed power reserve 173 h
Frequency of balance wheel 3 Hz (=21,600 vibrations/hour)
CASE
45mm, Stainless steel case, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, stainless steel bezel, black ceramic screw-locked crown and pushpieces, sandblasted titanium pushpiece guards, water-resistant to 100 m
DIAL
Black dial, white gold hands with luminescent coating
BRACELET
Black rubber strap with stainless steel pin buckle
FUNCTIONS
Tourbillon, chronograph, 30-minute counter, seconds counter, hours and minutes
REFERENCE
26421ST.OO.A002CA.01
The Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin
Audemars Piguet’s signature “Tapisserie” design has evolved into a splendid sunburst pattern that appears for the first time on three new Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin models.
Platinum case; bezel set with baguette-cute sapphires
18-carat pink gold with blue dial
A new plum tone dial
Technical Specifications
MOVEMENT
Hand-wound manufacture Calibre 2924
Total diameter 31.50 mm (14 lignes)
Total thickness 4.46 mm
Number of jewels 25
Number of parts 216
Minimal guaranteed power reserve 70 h
Frequency of balance wheel 3 Hz (=21,600 vibrations/hour)
CASE
41mm, 950 platinum case, bezel set with baguette-cut gradated blue sapphires, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, water-resistant to 50 m
DIAL
Smoked blue dial with “Tapisserie Evolutive” pattern, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating
BRACELET
950 platinum bracelet with AP folding clasp
FUNCTIONS
Tourbillon, power reserve, hours and minutes
REFERENCE
26521PT.YY.1220PT.01
MOVEMENT
Hand-wound manufacture Calibre 2924
Total diameter 31.50 mm (14 lignes)
Total thickness 4.46 mm
Number of jewels 25
Number of parts 216
Minimal guaranteed power reserve 70 h
Frequency of balance wheel 3 Hz (=21,600 vibrations/hour)
CASE
41mm, 18-carat pink gold case, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, water-resistant to 50 m
DIAL
Blue dial with “Tapisserie Evolutive” pattern, pink gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating
BRACELET
18-carat pink gold bracelet with AP folding clasp
FUNCTIONS
Tourbillon, power reserve, hours and minutes
REFERENCE
26522OR.OO.1220OR.01
MOVEMENT
Hand-wound manufacture Calibre 2924
Total diameter 31.50 mm (14 lignes)
Total thickness 4.46 mm
Number of jewels 25
Number of parts 216
Minimal guaranteed power reserve 70 h
Frequency of balance wheel 3 Hz (=21,600 vibrations/hour)
CASE
41mm, Stainless steel case, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback, water-resistant to 50 m
DIAL
Purple dial with “Tapisserie Evolutive” pattern, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating
BRACELET
Stainless steel bracelet with AP folding clasp
FUNCTIONS
Tourbillon, power reserve, hours and minutes
REFERENCE
26522ST.OO.1220ST.01
