Audemars Piguet presents the new Royal Oak Automatic Flying Tourbillon

The classic Royal Oak complication has been subtly improved.

In terms of anniversaries, the 50th anniversary is a big one for Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak. Several watches in the Royal Oak collection have been updated here, including design evolutions aimed at improving the watches that collectors love and desire. A refreshed model is the Royal Oak Automatic Flying Tourbillon, with three new additions to the collection: one in rose gold, one in stainless steel and one in titanium.

The first two feature a traditional smoked blue dial with a Grande Tapisserie check pattern, while the third features a matte blue dial with a graduated ring connecting the hash marks on the minute track. The third version repeats the styling we've already seen in the self-winding flying tourbillon, albeit in grey. Each new example is powered by Caliber 2950, which debuted in 2020 and has a 65-hour power reserve and a rate of 21,600 vph. Only now, on the back of this movement is a special gold oscillating weight embossed with the "50 Years" logo to call attention to the Royal Oak's half-century celebration.

Plus, they each feature design improvements aimed at making the Royal Oak look and feel better. According to an AP press release, these include wider bevels on the case and bracelet to better accentuate light and shadow effects on the surfaces; Comfort; the slightly recessed sapphire case back allows the watch to fit better on the wearer's wrist; the hour markers and hands adopt new proportions to enhance the harmony within the dial. Nonetheless, they are the same as the existing self-winding tourbillon at 41mm x 10.6mm.

As we've seen on other recent examples of self-winding tourbillons, the applied Audemars Piguet signature is made of a thin layer of 24-karat gold, created using electric current growth, which the Associated Press describes as akin to 3D printing chemical process. The letters are connected by thin chains that are difficult to see with the naked eye. Then use the little feet to secure them to the dial. It was originally developed by Audemars Piguet for the Code 11:59 collection. These design improvements will continue into the future, but the anniversary rotors are only available for this year.

Moving a classic forward requires a careful touch and a lot of respect. So, at least from the images I've seen, the new Royal Oak manages to thread a small needle. Much of the real charm of Royal Oak watches comes down to how they look and feel on the wrist, all thanks to the many small proportions of links, bevels and facets that have to create a sense of harmony. The Royal Oak bracelet is just the right size and is one of the most impressive of the watches, the light on the watch and the multiple facets of the bracelet are breathtaking. With these new improvements, I'm interested to see how the 2022 Royal Oaks feel on the wrist and how they handle light.

While pricing is on request, these are sure to be expensive watches with a single complication - or is it one complication? – This has to be in harmony with the overall feel of the watch. As the Royal Oak series, it is a sports watch with the decoration of the case, dial and bracelet as the highlight. Ostensibly, a bracelet is worn on a watch because it is more durable and permanent than a watch strap. But the Royal Oak bracelet is actually a work of art. All the parts of the Royal Oak have to work together to make it feel good.

Therefore, even the weighted balance wheel oscillating within the tourbillon cage must be accurate. Note its color in relation to the rose gold hands, hour markers and AP lettering below; then check it against all the same parts in the white metal variant above.

While these tourbillons aren't the biggest news from The Associated Press today, they do look fantastic, as do the existing models that people are already lining up to buy. You can bet collectors are already asking for these new pieces.

Base
Brand: Audemars Piguet
Model: Self-winding Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon
Reference numbers: rose gold: 26730OR.OO.1320OR.01; stainless steel: 26730ST.OO.1320ST.01; titanium: 26730TI.OO.1320TI.01

Diameter: 41mm
Thickness: 10.6mm
Case material: 18-carat rose gold, titanium or stainless steel
Dial Color: Smoked blue or sandblasted blue with large checkered pattern
Hour-markers: rose gold-set hour-markers or white-gold-set hour-markers
Luminous: yes
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap/bracelet: rose gold, titanium or stainless steel bracelet with AP folding clasp

sports
Movement: Caliber 2950
Functions: hours, minutes, flying tourbillon
Diameter: 31.5 mm
Thickness: 6.24mm
Power reserve: 65 hours
Winding: automatic
Frequency: 21,600 vph
Gems: 27

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