This year, Audemars Piguet launches a new Concept model for both women and men, the Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon and Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT respectively. These striking timepieces are now available across the Middle East.
The Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon is the first Royal Oak Concept model for women – and the first flying tourbillon released by Audemars Piguet. Haute Horlogerie unites with Haute Joaillerie in the creation of these 38.5 mm 18-carat white gold wristwatches set with either 3.7-carat brilliant-cut or 9.98-carat baguette-cut diamonds. They also present a fascinating and dynamic complication that appears to float.
The timepiece has a distinctive aesthetic: the white gold dial features faceted stones resembling “icicles” and white lacquered decorations reminiscent of winter in the Vallée de Joux. This bold and intensely feminine piece adapts beautifully to a woman’s wrist.
Satin-finished bridges, polished angles and white lacquered decorations are visible through the sapphire crystal caseback. On the dial side, the openworked barrel subtly appears at 11 o’clock, a snowflake amid diamond-set icicles.
For men, the Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT is a new generation of its predecessor, with the addition of the flying tourbillon and dial animations.
The black ceramic bezel provides a contemporary frame to a resolutely high-tech dial design with redesigned bridges, a flying tourbillon at 9 o’clock, a GTM or second time zone function at 3 o’clock and an asymmetric look. It is a powerful mix of sandblasted titanium and black ceramic with contrasting pink gold-toned inserts for a new multifaceted architecture.
The HNR selection indicator hand has also been replaced with a disc to match with the new movement aesthetic. The HNR selection indicator signals the crown’s three positions: hours (heure) – to set the time; neutral (neutre) – when the crown is pushed all the way in, and winding-mechanism (remontoir) – to wind the movement.
The two Royal Oak Concept models underline Audemars Piguet’s philosophy to push the boundaries of watchmaking from a technical and design standpoint, and reach horological perfection.
