Made of Gold
ince its inception in 1875, Audemars Piguet continues to run operations under the watchful eye of its founding families. This has given the business continuous opportunities to understand the rules of watchmaking, and effectively break them to create unique timepieces that are true to the vision of the manufactur e. Due to technological innovations and changing trends, Audemars Piguet’s timepieces continue to evolve over time. Now, the manufacture revisits the traditions of classic watchmaking by bringing the use of gold back into the fold. When Audemars Piguet released the Royal Oak model in 1972, it was viewed as a highly revolutionary timepiece. Before then, luxury timepieces were small and made of gold; but the brand defied all expectations and came up with a sporty mak e with a stainless steel. It was a risky move, but the shift from gold to a more common metal was a game-changing triumph that paid off. The modern aesthetic included an octagon-shaped bezel with eight hexagonal screws and what would become Royal Oak’s trademark tapisseriepatterned dial, giving the timepiece a one-of-a-kind face. More than 40 years into the future, this horological icon continues to be upheld by watch patrons and collectors as an innovative achievement.
Audemars Piguet presented, for the first time last year, the Royal Oak featuring steel and rose gold. The stainless steel was a throwback to the timepiece’s iconic 1972 look, and the use of r ose gold added a more contemporary feel to the timepiece.
This time around, traditional design and modern technology meet in the creation of Audemars Piguet’s new Royal Oak collection. The brand, once again, makes use of yellow gold, which symbolises wealth and power. Powered by Audemars Piguet’s calibre 2385, the three-counter chronograph energises the original Gerald Genta make. The 41 mm case encloses a silver-toned tapisserie dial, a date display at 4 o’clock, a small second display at 6 o’clock, hour markers in yellow gold, and the trademark Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating. There is also the Royal Oak Selfwinding model, which was designed based on the 2012 40th Anniversary timepiece. It is a bit smaller, with a 37 mm case in 18-carat yellow gold and a distinctive blue dial. The inner mechanism and engraved gold oscillating weight of the calibre can be seen through the glare-proof sapphire crystal case back.
The new Royal Oak watches retain all elements that have made the timepiece revolutionary when it came out, and more. To this day, the expert watchmakers of the manufacture continue to produce exceptional timepieces, and they will do so for many years to come.