Everything
In the land of ethereal watchmaking – and perhaps what may seem like an “unattainable” world for many – lies Audemars Piguet, an almost otherworldy brand that sits on the outskirts of the watchmaking norm. One-third of the so-called “Holy Trinity” of watchmaking, AP has, since 1875, remained ahead of the curve thanks to doing things on its own terms.
A fine example of AP’s penchant for success has arguably been the creation of the Royal Oak, a collection first designed by the maestro of watchmaking Gerald Genta in 1972. Now, some fifty years later, AP continues to “wow” the masses with its fine-tuned releases, but this year, the Swiss watch royalty has hit a home run with the unveiling of several new Royal Oak iterations, plus other cool watches.
Here are our picks of the bunch…
Royal Oak Selfwinding
The first thing to take from this stunning iteration of the Royal Oak Selfwinding is that it is not a Tiffany-blue dial. Look closely, and you’ll witness its vivid natural turquoise blue which differs in aesthetic with each model presented due to the different machining and finishing techniques required to accommodate each stone. Paired effortlessly with 18-carat yellow gold, and you have one of the nicest sub-40mm sports watches on the market.
This new version 37 mm Royal Oak Selfwinding model is entirely crafted in 18-carat yellow gold, resulting in a timepiece with unprecedented radiance – it looks absolutely stunning on-wrist, and we dare say this will be incredibly difficult to acquire upon release thanks to its sheer beauty.
Price: approx $86,000
CODE 11.59
Positioned as an entry-level offering, the new CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet – which was first launched in 2019 – is presented in stainless steel, a first for the CODE 11.59 line, with six new references all at 41mm.
Contrary to what critics had first anticipated for this rather simple line, the introduction of CODE 11.59 four years ago has really worked wonders for AP, perhaps acting as a gateway for newcomers to the brand to one day be afforded the opportunity to purchase the Royal Oak.
The new collection sees four models crafted entirely in steel, while the other two are designed from a combination of black ceramic and steel. Additionally, you’ll notice a new aesthetic has been emphasised, with the ergonomics of the timepiece, coupled with the legibility of the pieces, forming a harmonious coming together. both ergonomics and legibility as well as introducing new dials with a pattern that has been specifically created for the collection – CODE 11.59 represents a crossroads between technical modernity and ancestral craftsmanship.
Price: from approx. $35,500
Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph in Black Ceramic
Presenting the first Royal Oak Offshore 42mm in an all-black ceramic design. Just from press images alone, you can tell that this is one stellar timepiece – the black ceramic case with a matching bracelet and a black Petite Tapisserie dial is a seriously cool, contemporary watch. The piece is powered by the equally impressive Calibre 4404, Audemars Piguet’s integrated chronograph movement with a flyback function.
Price: approx $120,000
Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin with Blue-Grained Dial
Introducing a brand new version of the renowned Royal Oak “Jumbo”, now in an ultra-thin design, 39mm with a new grained dial that wearers have marveleld at. The textured dial will be seen differently depending on the angle that the light hit it; and thanks to the use of PVD, the blue tone is then covered with a translucent coating that accentuates its brilliance – a sight reminiscent of a clear night sky above Le Brassus.
This limited edition brings back Calibre 7121, an ultra-thin movement that was first introduced in January 2022 for the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak.
Price: approx. $110,000
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For more information on the newest AP drops, visit Audemar Piguet.
