Lifestyle
Audemars Piguet’s Frosted Gold Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon Revealed
Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet has revealed the newest Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon featuring a frosted white and rose gold finish.
Audemars Piguet’s newest Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillion has been revealed and features a clean circular design that draws the eye inward to the diamond-encrusted flying tourbillon cage.
The latest in the “Royal Oak Concept” range, this is a smaller design compared to the majority of the oversized Royal Oak Concept men’s watches and is the first time it has been offered with a frosted case.
While the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept has been around since 2002, it wasn’t until 2018 that a flying tourbillon was introduced to the range. Suspended from underneath, the flying tourbillon doesn’t require an overhead bridge and facilitates a slimmer design.
Available in either 18ct pink gold or white gold, the latest edition revisits the frosted look first introduced in 2016 through the collaboration with Italian jewelry designer Carolina Bucci.
Using a decorative Florentine technique of “frosting,” a diamond-tipped tool is used to hammer thousands of tiny indentations into the metal that creates a sparkling effect as though it were precious stones or “diamond dust.”
To maintain a clean and unfettered view of the mesmerizing dial, no hour markers have been included. Still, the two small semi-skeletonized luminescent hands allow the wearer to quickly tell the time at a glance.
Taking a look closer inside the 38.5mm frosted and satin-brushed case, the watch face consists of a sunburst blue multi-layered dial with four concentric ovals stepping down towards the diamond encrusted flying tourbillon cage positioned at 6 o’clock.
Compared to previous frosted Royal Oak editions powered by the automatic caliber 3120 and caliber 2713 quartz movements, the new Frosted Royal Oak Concept has a 72-hour power reserve and is powered by Audemars Piguet’s caliber 2964 with a hand-wound flying tourbillon, a design only a few expert watchmakers have the necessary skill to create.
Both editions are available on either a blue “large square-scale” alligator strap or a blue textured rubber strap with a constellation motif.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Frosted Gold Flying Tourbillon 38.5 mm
Ref: 26630OR.GG.D326CR.01 (pink gold)
Ref: 26630BC.GG.D326CR.01 (white gold)
Diameter: 38.5 mm
Material: 18 pink or white gold with hammered finish
Crystal: Sapphire
Water-resistance: 20 m
Movement: Cal. 2964
Functions: Hours, minutes, and tourbillon regulator
Winding: Hand-wind
Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 72 hours
Strap: Blue alligator with pink gold folding clasp
Availability: Only at boutiques
Price: CHF 145,000 (USD$159,000)
For more information, visit Audemarspiguet.com