
Even if Audemars Piguet has been spending an excessive amount of its effort constructing out the Code 11.59 assortment, the Royal Oak will at all times be the model’s flagship mannequin. For many individuals, Audemars Piguet is the Royal Oak, and whereas the model definitely has the will to guarantee that it doesn’t turn into solely synonymous with a singular design, you may just about assure that there’ll by no means be a single 12 months that passes wherein we received’t see some kind of latest Royal Oak watch. That stated, having an iconic design can typically be a little bit of a double-edged sword, as altering it an excessive amount of runs the danger of creating it lose the exact same traits that outline it as an icon. On account of this, almost all Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches have (kind of) provided the identical core design because the early Nineteen Seventies, with their dials, supplies, case sizes, and problems being the one actual tangible differentiating elements. As a part of the model’s newest batch of latest releases, Audemars Piguet has unveiled a brand new model of the 37mm Royal Oak that’s crafted solely from yellow gold and fitted with a pure turquoise stone dial.
To name the brand new 37mm yellow gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak (ref. 15550BA.OO. 1356BA.01) a brand new mannequin is a little bit of an exaggeration, as it’s primarily the very same watch as the present 37mm model of the time-and-date Royal Oak Selfwinding, simply crafted from a distinct metallic and fitted with a brand new dial. Identical to its siblings, the case measures 37mm in diameter by 8.9mm-thick, and it affords the traditional design of the Royal Oak with its built-in lugs, octagonal bezel, and eight uncovered screws. Equally, each the back and front sides of the case are fitted with flat sapphire crystals, whereas a signed crown at 3 o’clock affords entry to the motion and helps to create 50 meters of water resistance. When it comes to its general aesthetics, the brand new yellow gold 37mm Royal Oak is about as traditional and conventional as could be. Nevertheless, the important thing element right here is that this new mannequin is crafted from 18k yellow gold (quite than rose gold), and that is one thing that had been beforehand lacking from the 37mm-wide Royal Oak lineup since 2019.
The return of yellow gold to the 37mm Royal Oak assortment is a part of what makes this new mannequin particular, though its actual social gathering piece is the pure turquoise stone dial. Originating from Mexico, the items of turquoise are fastidiously chosen earlier than being minimize and formed into discs that measure simply 0.75mm thick. Polished gold baton markers with luminescent inlays are utilized to the floor of the dial, together with an identical yellow gold “Audemars Piguet” signature that sits under the 12 o’clock location. To be able to showcase the pure turquoise stone floor, the dial is totally devoid of textual content and printing, apart from a delicate black minute monitor and the compulsory “Swiss Made” signature at 6 o’clock. An oblong date window sits on the 3 o’clock location with a color-matched turquoise calendar disc, whereas the time itself is displayed by a trio of gold centrally mounted arms in the identical traditional form that may be discovered throughout the remainder of the Royal Oak vary.
Identical to the opposite time-and-date fashions from the modern 37mm Royal Oak lineup, the brand new turquoise dial model of the yellow gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is powered by the Caliber 5900 computerized motion. Consisting of 186 parts, the 29-jewel Audemars Piguet Cal. 5900 runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz), whereas providing customers an influence reserve of roughly 60 hours. Initially launched final 12 months in 2022, the Caliber 5900 is embellished with polished anglage, round graining, vertical brushing, and Geneva stripes, plus it’s fitted with a stable 22k pink gold skeletonized oscillating weight, with all of this seen by means of the sapphire show caseback. Lastly, simply as you’d count on, the case of the brand new turquoise dial 37mm Royal Oak is fitted with the gathering’s signature built-in bracelet, which is crafted from stable 18k yellow gold to match the remainder of the case.
Regardless of being only a metallic and dial variation of an present mannequin, the brand new 37mm yellow gold Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding does provide a considerably completely different look from the entire different fashions within the model’s present lineup. The traditional yellow gold tones of the case instantly set it aside from the hotter hue of the varied rose gold fashions, whereas its pure turquoise stone dial is not like anything at the moment out there within the assortment (even supposing a turquoise dial itself is hardly a novel aesthetic). The value is ready at CHF 51,000 not inclusive of taxes. Given how Audemars Piguet likes to endlessly iterate on the core design of the Royal Oak, I wouldn’t be stunned to see different yellow gold fashions added to the lineup sooner or later, because the daring aesthetic of a Royal Oak in full yellow gold is a tried-and-true look that has been round because the Nineteen Seventies. For extra data on the brand new turquoise dial Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding 37mm in yellow gold, go to the model’s web site.