Audemars Piguet has created a unique Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked model for the Only Watch 2023 charity auction.
Audemars Piguet is participating in the Only Watch charity auction for the 4th consecutive time. For the occasion, Audemars Piguet has created a one-of-a-kind timepiece that represents the first animation of the Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked model.
This new iteration comes in a 41 mm white ceramic case with a matching bracelet further enhanced with touches of blue on the mainplate, bridges and inner bezel, for a highly contemporary contrast.
The unique Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked combines an architectural and three-dimensional blue movement with a white ceramic case and bracelet – a first at Audemars Piguet.
The Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked, with its multi-layered openworked architecture and unique three-dimensional design, was first unveiled in 2022 as part of the celebrations for the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary.
Unlike the initial model, the unique piece created for Only Watch 2023 has a 41 mm white ceramic case with a matching bracelet featuring invisible pins. Moreover, it is enhanced with touches of blue on the mainplate and bridges that create a harmonious contrast with the rhodium-toned balance wheel and barrel, adding to the depth of the movement. It also showcases horizontal and vertical hand-finishing as well as angles in either brushed titanium or polished blued titanium to enhance the play of light.
Each component has then been finished with refined Haute Horlogerie decorations including “traits tirés,” satin, circular and sunray brushing, snailing, as well as polished chamfers.
The satin finished V-angles that can be admired on both sides of the watch reflect the meticulous work that went into their realisation, as this level of craftsmanship can only be achieved by hand.
The alternation of blue and titanium hues of the different components creates a harmony with the watch’s white ceramic case and bracelet, providing the watch with a highly contemporary aesthetic.
Completing the design, this Only Watch edition comes with the addition of a blue inner bezel and white gold hour-markers and hands, both filled with luminescence for optimum visibility in the dark. A special oscillating weight in 22-carat gold has also been coloured with the same blue and rhodium tones for a sleek and modern look.
The open-worked Calibre 2972 – an evolution of Calibre 2950 – was first unveiled for the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak Collection in 2022.
Combining a central rotor with a flying tourbillon, it was conceived to offer symmetry and a rich play of light. Its highly stylised and multilayered open-worked architecture brings a unique 3D effect, as the shape of the bridges has been finished horizontally and vertically.
Calibre 2972 builds on the age-old openworking techniques that have been reshaping what is possible with wristwatch design since the 1930s. The beauty and finesse of the mechanism are revealed by removing as much material without impairing its functions.
Leveraging advanced manufacturing technologies, the preliminary geometries of the mainplate and bridges have been cut through computer numerical control (CNC) machining, before being perfected by electric discharge machining (EDM). This manufacturing process enables the removal of small amounts of material with extreme precision to reach the desired shape.
The unobscured flying tourbillon, located at 6 o’clock, compensates for the effect of gravity and enhances accuracy. The balance wheel is housed in a tiny revolving cage that makes one revolution per minute to prevent the hairspring from remaining static.
Technical details
Model: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked 41 mm Only Watch 2023 Unique Piece, Reference 26735CB.OO.1225CB.99
Movement
Selfwinding Calibre 2972
Total diameter 31.5 mm (13 3/4 lignes)
Total thickness 6.2 mm
Number of jewels 27
Number of parts 271
Minimum guaranteed power reserve 65 h
Frequency of balance wheel 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations/hour)
Functions
Flying tourbillon, hours and minutes
Case
White ceramic case
Diameter: 41mm
Thickness: 10.6 mm
Glare-proofed sapphire crystal
Glare-proofed sapphire white ceramic case back
Screw-locked crown
Water-resistant to 50 m
Dial
Openworked blue movement, white gold applied hour-markers, Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, blue inner bezel.
Bracelet
White ceramic bracelet with AP folding clasp in polished, blackened stainless steel
Estimate
CHF 300,000 – 350,000
USD 330,000 – 385,000
EUR 309,000 – 360,500
