Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet presented a new take on its women’s Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon, which pursues the collection’s interweaving of refined feminine aesthetics and complicated micro-mechanics.
Available in 18-carat pink or white gold, the new Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon combines the case’s shimmering Frosted Gold finish with a contemporary dial composed of multiple layers. For the first time, the Royal Oak Concept’s case is adorned with Frosted Gold—an ancient Florentine jewellery technique revisited by jewellery designer Carolina Bucci and adapted to adorn the Manufacture’s watches. Tiny indentations are created on the gold surface with a diamond-tipped tool, giving a sparkle effect similar to that of precious stones, like diamond dust. Superposed to the bezel’s polished bevels, this finishing highlights the watch’s design, while capturing attention from a distance.
The shimmering case frames the multi-layered dial composed of four juxtaposed circles of increasing size and graded hues of blue emanating from the flying tourbillon cage at 6 o’clock. The graded nuances and sunburst motif further accentuate the dial’s depth. In addition, the flying tourbillon cage presents a modern design with open-worked gold-toned circles topped with brilliant-cut diamonds. No hour-markers have been included on the dial to enhance this contemporary design.
Movement
Combining tradition and modernity, these watches are powered by hand-wound Manufacture calibre 2964. The flying tourbillon—a high-end complication compensating for the effect of gravity on a watch—is today considered as of one the greatest expressions of watchmaking art. Only a few expert watchmakers retain the necessary skills for its realisation. The movement’s circular motif, visible through the sapphire caseback recalls the dial’s pattern. The alternation of sandblasting and satin-brushing also echoes the finishes of the Frosted Gold case and sunburst dial.
Strap
The two highly contemporary models are adorned with a blue “large square-scale” alligator strap for contrast. An additional blue textured rubber strap with constellation motif, recalling the Frosted Gold case, is also available. Both straps are complemented with a folding clasp adorned with Frosted Gold.
Technical specifications
| Reference | 26630OR.GG. D326CR. 01 | 26630BC.GG.D326CR.01 |
| Functions | Flying tourbillon, hours and minutes | Flying tourbillon, hours and minutes |
| Case | Hammered 18-carat pink gold case, glareproofed sapphire crystal and case-back, crown set with a translucent sapphire cabochon, water-resistant to 20m | Hammered 18-carat white gold case, glareproofed sapphire crystal and case-back, crown set with a translucent sapphire cabochon, water-resistant to 20m |
| Dial | Multi-layered, graded blue dial with sunburst pattern, pink gold Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating | Multi-layered, graded blue dial with sunburst pattern, white gold Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating |
| Movement | Hand-wound Manufacture Calibre 2964: Total diameter: 29.5 mm Total thickness: 6.63 mm Number of parts: 207 Number of jewels: 17 Minimum power reserve guaranteed: 72 hours Frequency of balance wheel: 3 Hz (21,600 v/h) | Hand-wound Manufacture Calibre 2964: Total diameter: 29.5 mm Total thickness: 6.63 mm Number of parts: 207 Number of jewels: 17 Minimum power reserve guaranteed: 72 hours Frequency of balance wheel: 3 Hz (21,600 v/h) |
| Strap | Hand-stitched “large square-scale” blue alligator strap with hammered 18-carat pink gold AP folding clasp. Additional shiny blue textured rubber strap | Hand-stitched “large square-scale” blue alligator strap with hammered 18-carat pink gold AP folding clasp. Additional shiny blue textured rubber strap |
For more watchmaking novelties, click here.