The Audemars Piguet watch that made the most noise (literally) at SIHH 2015 was the accoustically engineered Royal Oak Concept RD#1, the brand’s undisputed headliner, but AP also released some new versions of its popular standards, including this striking new execution of the iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, in two-tone rose gold and steel.
Fans of two-tone watches are likely to flock to this newest version of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak (Reference 15400SR.OO.1220SR.01), which carries on the look of the all-steel original, an iconic timepiece that help pioneer the evolution of the modern luxury sports watch. Its movement is the tried-and-true automatic Caliber 3120, which measures 26.6 mm in diameter and just 4.26 mm in thickness. The caliber consists of 280 parts, including 40 jewels, its balance wheel beats at a frequency of 21,600 vph, or 3 Hz, and it carries a power reserve of at least 60 hours. The case is stainless steel, with the familiar octagonal Royal Oak bezel made of 18k rose gold, which is also used for two interior rows of bracelet links and for the screw-locked winding crown with engraved Audemars Piguet logo. The case features glareproof sapphire crystals in the front and back (the back one, of course, allowing a view of the finely decorated movement) and is water-resistant to 50 meters. The silver-toned dial of the new gold-and-steel Royal Oak has the attractive “Grand Tapisserie” decorative pattern with which fans of the Royal Oak (as well as its big brother, the Royal Oak Offshore) have become familiar. The applied hour indices and the hour and minute hands are also made of rose gold, and the hands also have a luminescent coating.
The Audemars Piguet Two-Tone Selfwinding Royal Oak (which will be priced at $25,600) comes on a stainless steel and 18k rose gold bracelet with a stainless steel AP folding clasp. Below are some pictures of the new watch that I snapped at SIHH this week.
