EMBRACING THE DARK SIDE
Royal Oak will soon be 50 years old. Yet its silhouette outlives fashions. The Brassus-based manufacture transcends it with an attractive evolution blending ceramic and fine-watchmaking engineering.
From the moment it was unveiled back in 1971, Royal Oak, designed by Gerald Genta for Audemars Piguet, has forever been proposing variations and integrating complications yet pursuing its ever-so recognizable lines. Although this new Perpetual Calendar Openworked still boasts the octagonal bezel, its dial features no “Petite Tapisserie” checkerboard motif whatsoever! Its openwork design offers us a spectacular composition. This model reproduces the attires of the 2017-revealed black ceramic Perpetual Calendar. Its 41 mm-diameter, 9.9 mm-slimline case, along with its strap and folding clasp, invite us to admire their fine-brushed black shade obtained using the yttria oxide compound.
Time data comes to life through a scenescape offering a play on light and shadows. As well as the hours and minutes displayed through their respective hands, the day, date and month feature in special rose gold-encircled smoked-glass counters set at 9, 3 and 12 o’clock. This precious metal ensures perfect readability. A slimline central hand points to a week scale adorning the flange. Leap years and Moon phases complete all this data.
The ensemble is driven by the 5135 caliber (40-hour power reserve). Many of this self-winding movement’s components, admirable on both sides of the watch, highlight the strong style of the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked.
Price: CHF130,000
By Dan Diaconu