Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet introduces its first ever Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon. For the occasion, the Manufacture launches three 41 mm references in stainless steel, titanium and 18-carat pink gold, all complemented with a refined dial design.
"The Royal Oak Tourbillon first made its debut in 1997 for the 25th anniversary of the Royal Oak," says Michael Friedman, Head of Complications. "This latest evolution featuring the flying tourbillon and selfwinding mechanism reintroduces this modern classic with updated aesthetics for the new decade."
Material Variety and Refined
The full titanium reference presents an innovative dial design. An elegant sandblasted slate grey dial, with snailing in periphery, offers an alternative to the Royal Oak’s trademark “Tapisserie” pattern. The dial’s grey shades and white gold hour-markers and hands subtly echo the flying tourbillon making its rotation at 6 o’clock.
Reminiscent of other models in the Royal Oak collection, the stainless steel version adorns a refined smoked blue “Tapisserie” dial. Its state-of-the-art sunburst motif evolves from the flying tourbillon cage at 6 o’clock. These vibrant hues of blue give depth to the flying tourbillon, while serving as an elegant backdrop to the white gold hour-markers and hands.
The third model in 18-carat pink gold provides a contemporary contrast. A smoked grey sunburst “Tapisserie” dial enriched with pink gold hour-markers and hands illuminates the pink gold case and bracelet. The flying tourbillon cage adds a delicate glimmer of pink gold.
Whether in stainless steel, titanium or 18-carat pink gold, the case and bracelet have been handfinished with the brand’s emblematic alternation of satin-brushing and polished chamfers for a powerful juxtaposition of matt and polished finishing.
A Signature in Thin Layer of Gold
The new Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon presents an applied 24-carat gold Audemars Piguet signature—a first in the Royal Oak collection. Made of thin layers of gold, it is achieved through a chemical process akin to 3D printing known as galvanic growth. Each letter is connected with thin links almost invisible to the eye. The signature is then fixed on the dial by hand with minuscule legs. The signature was originally developed to adorn the smooth lacquered dials of the Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet.
Flying Tourbillon of the Latest Generation
This new model is powered by Calibre 2950, the Manufacture’s latest generation of selfwinding movement combining a flying tourbillon with a central rotor, released in 2019. Audemars Piguet’s first flying tourbillon wristwatch made its appearance in 2018 in the Royal Oak Concept collection.
Visible from the dial and caseback sides, the hand-finished flying tourbillon cage provides a beautiful view of some of the watch’s regulating components enabling its rotation. The caseback also reveals the movement’s refined decorations such as “Côtes de Genève,” satin-brushing, snailing and handpolished chamfers, as well as the dedicated openworked oscillating weight in pink gold or rhodiumtoned pink gold.
Meticulously crafted inside and out, the Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon interweaves contemporary design with age-old savoir-faire.
