Royal Oak dominates Audemars Piguet’s 2018 line-up
Royal Oak Audemars Piguet
Royal Oak Audemars Piguet: The Royal Oak was the collection of choice for haute horlogerie brand Audemars Piguet for its offerings for men in 2018.
The marque has added numerous complications, such as a Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin and a Flying Tourbillon GMT, to its iconic collection
It was in 1875 that Jules Louis Audemars (1851-1918) and Edward Auguste Piguet (1853-1919) set up business together; they were in their early twenties and respectively fourth- and fifth-generation watchmakers. Jules Louis Audemars’ school watch, completed shortly before he went into business in 1875, combined a perpetual calendar with a quarter repeating mechanism and – very rare for the time – an independent dead beat second. It was the start of an unbroken line of complications. While Audemars Piguet has never made the most watches, it has made – and continues to make – some of the most influential.
Audemars Piguet Grandes Complications combine a minute repeater, a chronograph with split second function, and a perpetual calendar with moonphase indication. Each of them is made by a single watchmaker from beginning to end. The skills and heritage that go into their creation imbues the whole Manufacture, where the passion for making complications spills over into all Audemars Piguet timepieces.
Royal Oak Rd#2 Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin
Two time-honoured Audemars Piguet specialties – complications and ultra-thin models – meet in the Royal Oak RD#2. It took the brand five years to develop the new ultra-thin 5133 calibre with perpetual calendar. The challenge was to re-engineer a three-storey movement into a single level, making it ultra-thin while combining and re-arranging functions to boost ergonomy, efficiency, and robustness. This patented system features a record-shattering 2.89 mm central rotor. At just 6.30 mm, the redesigned case shaves almost 2 mm off the Royal Oak Extra-Thin Jumbo, making the Royal Oak RD#2, the thinnest self-winding perpetual calendar on the market today.
Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT
Royal Oak Audemars Piguet 2018: This new generation of Royal Oak Concept GMT includes a flying tourbillon for the first time and offers new movement and dial animations. The flying tourbillon at 9 o’clock features the same power reserve and frequency as the previous Royal Oak Concept GMT model (237 h of power reserve, 3 hz frequency). Central bridges, formerly made of ceramic, have been replaced with sandblasted black titanium bridges highlighted by pink gold-toned polished angles. The HNR selection indicator, previously represented by a hand, has been replaced with a disc for better integration into the new movement aesthetics. Finally, the dial is made of sandblasted titanium and applied pink gold-toned inserts for a new, more faceted architecture.
Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph
The Royal Oak Offshore collection adds two new series, each limited to 50 pieces, which 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.
Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph
The new 44 mm stainless steel model appears for the first time with a khaki ceramic bezel, pushpieces, and screw-locked crown as well as camouflage strap option.
Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complication
The new 44 mm Royal Oak Offshore Grande Complications feature ceramic pushpieces and crowns, pushpiece guards, cases, and case backs. Sporting a high-tech, metal look, the Black ceramic version is reinforced with yttrium oxide, making it seven times harder than steel.
Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph
Royal Oak Audemars Piguet 2018: The Royal Oak Offshore collection appeared as a larger, more rugged sibling of the Royal Oak in 1993. Since then, with a solid global fan base, it has become a platform for innovation, constantly evolving into many different versions.
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. 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 reiteration 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 self-winding 3126/3840 calibre that incorporates 25 years of horological upgrades and improvements.
