AUDEMARS PIGUET UNVEILS THE ROYAL OAK RD#3 TO CELEBRATE THE ICONIC 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Audemars Piguet proudly unveils its latest research and development breakthrough (RD#3) with the Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin. This 39 mm stainless steel anniversary model, measuring 8.1 mm in thickness, represents the first "Jumbo" in history to be equipped with a selfwinding flying tourbillon.
It is powered by the Manufacture's new selfwinding ultra-thin flying tourbillon movement, Calibre 2968, measuring just 3.4 mm thick and adorned with a novel combination of traditional and contemporary hand-crafted decorations.
Audemars Piguet's watchmakers have met several technical challenges to bring this timepiece to life, while devoting particular attention to aesthetic details.
Pushing the boundaries of feasibility, this model will be complemented in September by a second 37 mm version for the slimmer wrists, enriched with a dial of a different hue.
A NEW ULTRA-THIN FLYING TOURBILLON MOVEMENT
Audemars Piguet's engineers and watchmakers took on numerous challenges in order to accommodate this complication – previously reserved for 41 mm diameters – into the smaller volume of a "Jumbo:" a first for the Manufacture and one of the rare examples in the watch industry as a whole.
Given the extra-thin nature of the form language, this selfwinding flying tourbillon had to be creatively rethought to reduce the thickness required to house this complication by repositioning certain components.
The tourbillon cage, which is crafted in titanium, is notably equipped for the first time with a peripheral drive. The combination of these two elements not only makes the distribution of energy to the tourbillon more fluid, but also served to lighten and refine this regulating organ.
In order to provide optimum visibility of the tourbillon and the movement, Audemars Piguet engineers completely redesigned the architecture of the mechanism.
The Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin features a new escapement to accentuate the aesthetic details
"The Royal Oak continues to evolve and cut through the timeline 50 years after its creation and will do so for the next 50 years and while revealing part of the movement's workings.
The geometry and positioning of the balance wheel arms have notably been revised in such a way as to make the watch's beating heart even more perceptible.
The technical design of the movement results in the flying tourbillon being placed at the dial level, for a greater visual experience."
It remains a platform for both technical and aesthetic development, as demonstrated by the new ultra-thin flying tourbillon making its debut on both the classic 39 mm and the celebrated 37 mm Royal Oak models. The movement architecture was designed to offer a unique view of the smaller cage while showcasing an engaging contrast of hand-finishing techniques throughout.
ROYAL OAK 50 YEARS OF INNOVATIONS
Upon release on April 15, 1972, the Royal Oak designed by Gérald Genta created a stir with its large body of hand-finished stainless steel, its octagonal bezel secured with visible hexagonal screws, its highly stylised integrated steel bracelet and its extra-thin selfwinding mechanism.
Inspired by the cultural and industrial revolution of the 1970s and launched in the early years of the quartz crisis, this watch combining sportiness with ancestral know-how heralded the beginning of a new fine watchmaking era in tune with changing lifestyles.
Over the years, the Royal Oak gave rise to a full-fledged collection with new sizes, materials, styles and movements. 50 years on, over 500 Royal Oak models have been created, turning this iconoclast into a cultural icon within and beyond watchmaking. Let's look back at some of its highlights included in our press kit below.
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