It’s Blitz: Audemars Piguet Unleashes a Raft of Royal Oak Timepieces

Created by legendary timepiece designer Gérald Genta during the quartz crisis, the Royal Oak is described as the world’s first luxury steel sports watch. For all passionate watch collectors and enthusiasts, Royal Oak is an emotion. The new blitzkrieg collection includes two Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronographs, two Royal Oak Jumbos in yellow gold and titanium, two minute repeaters, and two high jewellery models.

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Royal Oak Selfwinding

With new designs across all references, Audemars Piguet has introduced its very first Royal Oak models with snow-set diamonds. The 34 mm (Ref. 77452OR.ZZ.1365OR.01) and 37 mm (Ref.15552OR.ZZ.1358OR.01) watches are crafted from 18 ct pink gold. Each of these models is covered with an array of various-sized, brilliant-cut diamonds. While each of the 34 mm timepieces carries a total of 2,255 brilliant-cut diamonds, each of the 37 mm models showcases 2,123 brilliant-cut stones.

The various-sized diamonds are individually selected and placed on the dial, the bezel, the crown as well as on each bracelet link. The manufacturer has also revealed a white gold model with the same dimensions and movement, namely 34 mm (Ref. 77452BC.ZZ.1365BC.01) and 37 mm (Ref. 15552BC.ZZ.1358BC.01). All four references are time-only watches.

Powering the 34 mm models is self-winding Calibre 5809 with 50 hours of power reserve while the 37 mm collection gets self-winding Calibre 5909 with 60 hours of power reserve. Turning each watch over reveals the pink gold oscillating weight on a sapphire caseback in the respective case material.

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Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin

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The model has been unveiled with two variations. The first one is a Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin in a 39 mm (Ref. 16202XT.OO.1240XT.01) case, which is made of satin-finished and polished titanium. It has a mirror-polished bulk metallic glass bezel. This reference gets a smoked burgundy dial with sunburst motif, 18 ct pink gold Royal Oak hour markers, and hands with luminescent coating.

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Powering the timepiece is self-winding Calibre 7121 with 55 hours of power reserve. Turning the watch over showcases the sapphire caseback with a central oscillating weight, which is mounted on a ball bearing. This rotor, crafted in 22 ct pink gold, is equipped with two reversers that ensure bidirectional winding. Finishing the watch is a satin-finished and polished titanium bracelet with a titanium AP folding clasp.

The next watch in this category is the Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Openworked (Ref. 16204BA.OO.1240BA.01). In this 39 mm timepiece, the openworked architecture can be viewed. The yellow-gold-toned shade matches the colour of the case and the bracelet, taking centre stage. Yellow gold can also be found on the case, the bezel, the inner minute track, and the openworked bridges. The dial gets polished white gold hour markers and hour, minute, and central second hands with white gold hexagonal screws, securing the bezel onto the case. The gear train can be seen through the movement’s openworked bridges. 

Powering the watch is self-winding Calibre 7124 with 57 hours of power reserve. Turning each timepiece over showcases the slim openworked oscillating weight in yellow gold, plated with 22 ct pink gold. Finishing each watch are an 18 ct yellow gold bracelet and an AP folding clasp.

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Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie

This particular 42 mm black ceramic collection has been unveiled with two variants, one of them sporting white gold applied hour markers (Ref. 26591CE.OO.D002CA.01) and the other 13 baguette-cut diamond applied hour-markers (Ref. 26591CE.OO.D002CA.02). For the first time, black ceramic has been incorporated into Audemars Piguet variants.

Both models get black monochroatic aesthetics, which extend to the Grand Tapisserie dials, each with a minute train and a small seconds counter at 6 o’clock, along with snail finishing. White gold can also be found on the eight hexagonal screws, securing the octagonal bezel onto the case. Both minute repeaters are powered by the same manual-winding Calibre 2953, delivering 72 hours of power reserve. Turning each of the watches over reveals a full black ceramic solid caseback with sonic waves. Finishing the models are black rubber straps with titanium studs and titanium AP folding clasps. 

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Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph

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This collection comprises two 43 mm timepieces, one with a black ceramic case (Ref. 26420CE.OO.A043VE.01) while the other is an 18 ct pink gold model (Ref. 26420OI.OO.A015VE.01). The first watch in the chronograph category gets a blue monochromatic look. It comes in a black ceramic case, along with an octagonal bezel, pushers, and a crown in blue ceramic. 

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On the dial, there is a smoked blue Méga Tapisserie pattern that turns black on the outer periphery. The dial encompasses three black counters — a 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock, a 60-second counter at 6 o’clock, and a 12-hour counter at 3 o’clock. There is a date window at 4:30. White gold applied hour markers and Royal Oak hour, minute, and central seconds hands accentuate the aesthetics. This model is finished on a blue calfskin leather strap with a textile effect, featuring a  titanium pin buckle. There is an additional black rubber strap. 

The second model in this collection gets an 18 ct pink gold case; its bezel and chronograph pushers have been crafted from titanium. The crown and the two pushers for the chronograph function, on the other hand, are made of black ceramic. The watch gets a grey Méga Tapisserie dial with pink gold baton hour markers and pink gold hour, minute, and central second hands with luminescent coating.  This model is finished on a grey calfskin leather strap with a textile effect and an 18 ct pink gold pin buckle. You get a black rubber strap option as well. 

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Both watches are powered by self-winding Calibre 4401 with 70 hours of power reserve. Turning each model over showcases the sapphire caseback with decorations, such as Côtes de Genève, circular graining, sunray brushing, circular satin, and polished chamfers.