Timeless innovation in Audemars Piguet’s latest masterpieces

by | Sep 16, 2024 | Audemars Piguet Watch, History & Heritage, Luxury Watch Brands, Luxury Watches

A glimpse into timekeeping excellence

Audemars Piguet is once again redefining the art of watchmaking with their latest collection, unleashing groundbreaking innovations with unparalleled style and precision. Discover the extraordinary features of their newest releases:

Royal Oak Offshore

Royal Oak Offshore

The Royal Oak Offshore collection continues to revolutionise watchmaking with its blend of unconventional materials, vibrant colours, and bold contrasts. Robust and eye-catching, it is a wonder to behold. Celebrated for over 30 years for its adventurous and youthful spirit, this collection captures the essence of living a full dynamic, thrill-seeking life.

The new 37mm Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding model is a standout, featuring an 18-carat pink gold case with a grey rubber-coated bezel. This watch, equipped with the Calibre 5900, is designed for smaller wrists and combines elegant aesthetics with sporty functionality. The guilloché Grande Tapisserie dial in rhodium and ivory tones, paired with interchangeable straps, enhances its versatility, making it an ideal companion for summer adventures and refined occasions.

Mini Royal Oak

The Mini Royal Oak returns with three elegant 23mm models crafted in 18-carat yellow, white, and pink gold. Building on the legacy of the original 20mm Mini Royal Oak from 1997, these new designs deliver a fresh, contemporary take while retaining the distinctive architectural and aesthetic elements of the iconic watch. These models reflect Audemars Piguet’s rich history of miniature and jewellery watches, reimagining the proportions and performance of the smallest Royal Oak ever made.
Mini Royal Oak

Featuring a “frosted” gold finish, the Royal Oak Mini models merge the bold geometry of the 1972 design with a refined shimmer, creating a striking visual impact. The Petite Tapisserie dial, along with faceted gold hour markers filled with luminescent material, enhances the watch’s elegance and functionality. Powered by the Calibre 2730 quartz movement, known for its precision and long battery life, these timepieces represent a blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern convenience, continuing Audemars Piguet’s legacy of innovation and sophistication in miniature watchmaking.

[RE]MASTER02

[RE]MASTER02

The [RE]Master02 Selfwinding pays homage to the Brutalist-inspired Model 5159BA from 1960, following the success of [RE]Master01’s reinterpretation of a 1943 chronograph. A truly limited edition of 250 pieces, it features an asymmetrical 41mm case made from the new 18-carat sand gold alloy, which varies in hue between white and pink gold depending on light. The watch’s “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50” dial, composed of twelve individually machined brass triangles and sand gold partitions, creates unique light and texture effects.

Equipped with the Calibre 7129, an extra-thin hour-and-minute movement, the [RE]Master02 combines vintage design with modern performance. This model continues Audemars Piguet’s tradition of crafting asymmetrical watches, reviving an era of rare and innovative timepieces from the mid-20th century.

Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon Sand Gold

The new Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked in 41mm introduces a breathtaking new 18-carat “sand gold” alloy, offering a dynamic colour that shifts between white and pink gold depending on light and angle. This innovative material provides a rich interplay of light and a range of aesthetic possibilities, enhancing the watch’s visual appeal.
Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon Sand Gold

The timepiece features Calibre 2972, which has been meticulously crafted to complement the sand gold case and bracelet. The movement’s openworked bridges and main plate, in a matching sand-gold tone, create a striking 3D effect against the rhodium-toned components. This design emphasises both technical sophistication and modern elegance, maintaining durability and timelessness with its unique colour and intricate architecture.

Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet

Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet

The Code 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection has expanded with seven new references, continuing to evolve five years after its launch. These additions, available in both Selfwinding and Selfwinding Chronograph versions, are crafted in 18-carat pink gold and incorporate the distinctive aesthetic introduced in 2023. The collection features a range of sizes and colours, including elegant contrasts in the 38mm models with shades of blue, and striking two-tone designs in the 41mm models with hues like “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50,” green, and black.
These new models highlight the collection’s versatility and contemporary design. The 38mm timepieces come with vibrant blue dials and matching alligator straps, while the 41mm versions offer dramatic contrasts with pink gold and black ceramic elements. The updated designs reflect the collection’s ongoing innovation, showcasing the signature decoration and technical complexity that define the Code 11.59 series.

Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin RD#3

The Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin (RD#3) is now available in a refined 37mm 18-carat white gold case, expanding on the 2022 stainless steel models. This new iteration features an extra-thin case and bracelet with a sophisticated finish, combining satin brushing and polished chamfers to create a diamond-like play of light.
Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin RD#3
The timepiece showcases a new smoked blue dial, achieved through Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) and black varnish spraying, echoing the aesthetic elements of previous models. It is powered by the ultra-thin Calibre 2968 movement, which is only 3.4mm thick and features a flying tourbillon to enhance accuracy by countering gravity’s effects. This complex mechanism, supported only from below, highlights the watchmaking expertise involved in crafting this artistic and technically advanced timepiece.
Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar

Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar

American musician and watch enthusiast John Mayer has collaborated with Audemars Piguet to create a limited edition Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, featuring the self winding Calibre 5134. This 18-carat white gold timepiece blends the iconic Royal Oak design with the intricate perpetual calendar complication, showcasing Mayer’s artistic influence in the dial’s crystal-like texture, evoking the depth of a moonless sky. The collaboration highlights Mayer’s love for detail and complexity, resulting in a watch that reflects both technical mastery and aesthetic beauty.

This limited edition is the last chance for watch connoisseurs to collect this significant piece of Audemars Piguet’s watchmaking legacy. It marks the final release of a timepiece equipped with the Calibre 5134, a movement central to the high pedigree of this brand’s watchmaking heritage. Originally introduced in 1978, the calibre contributed to the revival of mechanical watch complications during the quartz crisis. In 2015, the movement was adapted to the 41mm case of the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, maintaining a slim profile and continuing to shape the brand’s reputation for innovation and high complications.

A Boldly Feminine Royal Oak Concept

Audemars Piguet has introduced a limited edition Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon, created in collaboration with Haute Couture designer Tamara Ralph. This 18-carat pink gold timepiece sparkles with a Frosted Gold finish and features a unique colour palette blending brown, bronze, and golden hues. The collaboration celebrates the natural synergy between Haute Horlogerie and Haute Couture, showcasing the fusion of bold femininity and timeless elegance, which will debut during Ralph’s Spring/Summer 2024 runway show in Paris.

A Boldly Feminine Royal Oak Concept

The design embodies the expertise of both brands, combining technical craftsmanship with aesthetic sophistication. The dial’s sunburst satin finish and the diamond-set flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock enhance the watch’s modern femininity, while the Frosted Gold surface sparkles like precious stones. The collaboration highlights the shared pursuit of perfection and creative vision, with Tamara Ralph’s couture influence bringing a luxurious touch to this distinctive timepiece.

Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date

Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date

Audemars Piguet continues to redefine the boundaries of horological innovation with the introduction of a new 43mm Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date model. This timepiece showcases a groundbreaking material: coloured forged carbon, a testament to the brand’s unwavering pursuit of cutting-edge design and engineering.
Crafted using Chroma Forged Technology (CFT), the deep black forged carbon case boasts a subtle interplay of colours, offering a unique aesthetic. Beyond its visual appeal, this non-porous material provides exceptional resistance to humidity, heat, and shocks, ensuring durability and longevity. The ultra-light case middle, featuring blue luminescent pigments, is complemented by a black ceramic bezel, crown, push-pieces, and caseback. The dial, adorned with electric blue accents, further enhances the watch’s contemporary and sporty character.

Timeless elegance meets modern mastery

Each fresh creation from Audemars Piguet expands its legacy of artful innovation in watchmaking. These newest releases are a clear testament to their unwavering commitment to incredible engineering and exquisite craftsmanship. Such bold designs honour the past while embracing the future, with every timepiece a new icon of the brand’s enduring heritage of luxury and precision.

Reference:

The images used are sourced from Audemars Piguet’s official website, available on the ‘Our Latest’ page.