Audemars Piguet Expands its Code 11.59, Royal Oak Collections, Unveils a New [Re]Master02

Audemars Piguet has launched several high-profile and innovative watches, including updates to their iconic Royal Oak collection. These new models feature, among other things, cutting-edge materials and advanced horological complications. 

As all watch lovers would know, the brand has forged notable collaborations that have garnered significant attention ― take its partnership with John Mayer for the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ‘John Mayer’ Limited Edition. Prior to this year’s Watches and Wonders, the timepiece maker showcased its Royal Oak collection, placing utmost importance on material innovation and design; now, the brand has come up with an extensive range of new watches with the same philosophy in mind.

So, here’s the lowdown on the new AP pieces on offer.

Royal Oak Mini

This has three variants in 18 ct yellow, white, and pink gold, housed in 23 mm cases that get satin finishing. The collection follows the design codes of the 20 mm Mini Royal Oak launched in 1997. The new Mini Oak versions get the diamond-dust look of frosted gold with polished bevels that surround the instantly identifiable octagonal bezels. 

Each dial is enhanced by faceted gold hour markings that match the colour of the case and are filled with luminescent material for maximum visibility in the dark. The Audemars Piguet signature at 12 o'clock is printed in black on a cartouche to improve legibility, while the date indicator and the seconds scale have been removed to improve both legibility and the refinement of the guilloche watch face. 

Powering the watches is a quartz movement that offers a battery life of seven years. Turning each watch over showcases the closed caseback with the Royal Oak engraving. The tone-on-tone Petite Tapisserie adds to the play of light created by the frosted gold case and bracelet.

Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked/37 mm 

AP has also put forth two 37 mm editions in 18 ct white gold (Ref. 15467BC.OO.1256BC.01) and 18 ct pink gold (Ref. 15467OR.OO.1256OR.02). The brand now uses Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines to cut the bridges into desired shapes and finishes them by hand, using more traditional techniques. Both novelties get the crown, the bezel, and the openworked movement in the same material as that of the respective cases. 

The dial of the white gold model gets a light blue inner bezel, and pink gold hour markers and hands. The dial of the pink gold model sports a purple inner bezel, and white gold hour markers and hands. The two balance wheels can be found at 8 o’clock and 1 o’clock. Powering the watches is a self-winding Calibre 3132 with a 45-hour power reserve. Turning each watch over showcases the sapphire crystal octagonal caseback with an oscillating weight. The watches are finished in either 18 ct white gold or 18 ct pink gold bracelets. There is also an additional alligator strap in the same colour to match the inner bezel of the respective model with an 18 ct white or pink gold folding clasp.

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Code 11.59

Two new 38 mm bejewelled models have joined the brand's Code 11.59 collection. One is an 18 ct white gold version (Ref. 77410BC.ZZ.D132CR.01) with 533 pink sapphires and brilliant-cut diamonds, while the other is an 18 ct pink gold variant (Ref. 77410OR.ZZ.D343CR.01) with 533 blue sapphires and brilliant-cut diamonds. The 38 mm collection gets the crown, the lugs, and the hour, minute, and second hands crafted in the same material as that of its respective case variant. Also, diamonds can be found on the crowns and the lugs on both novelties.

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Powering the watches is a self-winding Calibre 5909 with a power reserve of 60 hours. Each sapphire caseback has an oscillating weight. The white gold timepiece is finished on a pearl grey alligator strap with an 18 ct white gold AP folding clasp, while the pink gold timepiece gets a pearly dark blue alligator strap with an 18 ct pink gold folding clasp. Both novelties get 42 brilliant-cut diamonds on their respective clasps.

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[RE]Master02 Selfwinding

Audemars Piguet has introduced the new [RE]Master02 Selfwinding, an asymmetrical rectangular timepiece housed in a 41 mm 18 ct sand gold alloy case. It is a tribute to Model 5159BA, an asymmetrical model created by the firm in 1960 and inspired by the Brutalist architecture movement that is characterised by minimalist constructions. The alloy has a tone oscillating between white and pink gold. The new model is limited to 250 pieces.

[RE]Master02 features a "Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50" split dial divided into 12 separate triangles with a linear satin finish that, when assembled, produces unique light and texture patterns. The case's rectangular design is enhanced by sharp corners and extended by integrated lugs; it also follows the slope of the sapphire crystal at 3 o'clock. Its entire surface has been brushed with a satin finish, creating a matte, "raw" effect that contrasts with the dial's polished features. 

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Powering the watch is a self-winding Calibre 7129, an extra-thin hour and minute movement, without date indication, that is based on the Calibre 7121, with a 52-hour power reserve. Turning the watch over showcases the 22 ct gold oscillating weight, whose sand gold tone subtly echoes the colour of the case. The watch is finished on a blue contrasted alligator strap, with an 18 ct sand gold pin buckle.

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Royal Oak Polychrome Camouflage Gold Alloy

Audemars Piguet’s camouflage gold alloy, known as chroma gold, is bold and unconventional. But what makes it unique is that it is solid camouflage gold rather than a coating. This unique polychrome gold is made using the newest Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technology, which allows for rapid sintering of powdered gold and has already been utilised to make chroma ceramics.

Audemars Piguet's R&D teams developed this innovative blend of gold alloys, which opens up new creative possibilities. This unusual material is on display as a prototype at Milan's Seek Beyond: Shaping Materials exhibition. The gold alloy watch measures 34 mm in diameter and has a camouflage theme in yellow, pink, and white gold. To generate the multicoloured camouflage motif, different gold colours are transformed separately.

 The gold is first melted and then the droplets are atomized to produce the powder. To get the required design, the powder is precisely placed in a circular graphite mould. For the first time in the watch industry, the compression of gold powders during the sintering cycle makes each piece unique by varying the pattern from model to model.