Audemars Piguet’s 40th Anniversary Royal Oak Limited Edition Timepiece

To celebrate the milestone 40^th anniversary of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak timepiece, the iconic luxury watch brand is releasing the Openworked Extra-Thin Royal Oak Limited Edition 40^th Anniversary in January.

As the first luxury sports watch ever, Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak has become a legend. To celebrate the iconic timepiece’ 40th anniversary, the luxury watch brand is releasing the Openworked Extra-Thin Royal Oak Limited Edition 40^th Anniversary in January.  This platinum anniversary edition is issued in a limited series of just 40.

As a specialist in ultra-thin movements, the Manufacture in Le Brassus chose this complex horological mechanism to power the very first Royal Oak in 1972. It was thus the famous Calibre 2121, one of the world’s thinnest mechanical selfwinding models at just 3.05 mm thick, that beat at the heart of the first versions of the Royal Oak. This distinctive expertise, consisting in engraving and hollowing out the movement to give it an airy character and play on its transparent effect, is an art still mastered by very few artisans. Combining within a single timepiece the constraints imposed by an ultra-thin movement and the demands of skeletonisation or openworking represents an impressive feat indeed.

The 39 mm diameter of this Openworked Extra-Thin Royal Oak is identical to that of the 1972 Royal Oak. Considered outsized and extravagant at the time of its launch, it shaped the trend for larger watches and now represents a medium-sized diameter. The platinum case is water-resistant to 50 metres and fitted with glareproofed sapphire crystals front and back. All the refined finishing and decoration of the movement may be admired at leisure. The new folding clasp, also in 950 platinum, is distinguished by a double safety fastening system.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

• MOVEMENT

Selfwinding Manufacture Calibre 5122 – Total diameter : 28.40 mm (12 1/2 lignes) – Thickness : 3.05 mm – 36 jewels – 247 parts – Power reserve : approx. 40 hours – Cadence of balance : 19’800 vibrations/hour – Finishings: manual finishings of the bridge (polished bevels, satinbrushed edges, perlage on the recesses), 22K gold monobloc oscillating weight stamped with the raised inscription “ AP Royal Oak 1972-2012 and with “tapisserie” motif on it external segment.

• CASE

950 platinum case, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback Water-resistant to 50 m

• DIAL

Openworked slate-grey dial, white gold applied hour markers Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating

• BRACELET

950 platinum bracelet with AP folding clasp

• REFERENCE