Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked Only Watch 2023

Audemars Piguet participates 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 Manufacture’s 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.

There is something very special about Only Watch, the way it pushes creativity into new realms and brings the watch industry together for a good cause.” François-Henry Bennahmias Audemars Piguet Chief Executive Officer.

When architecture meets design

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, this new Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked Only Watch Edition comes in a 41 mm white ceramic case with a matching bracelet. A keen eye will also notice that the ceramic bracelet is fitted with invisible pins for added visual impact.

This new edition 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. The intrigue is further accentuated by both 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.

A selfwinding flying tourbillon endowed with a distinctive openworked architecture

The openworked 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 openworked 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. Only supported by a bridge on the back of the mainplate, the flying tourbillon is considered today a symbol of watchmaking art as only a few watchmaking experts retain the necessary skills for its realisation.

Technical specifications

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked Only Watch Edition / 41 mm

Reference: 26735CB.OO.1225CB.99

Unique piece for Only Watch 2023

Case

• Material: White ceramic
• Diameter: 41 mm
• Thickness: 10.6 mm
• Glass: Glareproofed sapphire crystal
• Glareproofed sapphire white ceramic case back
• Screw-locked crown
• Water-resistant to 50 meters

Dial and hands

• Openworked blue movement
• White gold applied hour-markers
• Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating
• Blue inner bezel

Movement

• Selfwinding Calibre 2972
• Diameter: 31.5 mm (13 ¾ lignes)
• 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/Indications

• Flying tourbillon, hours and minutes

Strap and buckle

• White ceramic bracelet with AP folding clasp in polished, blackened stainless steel.

Estimate

• CHF 300'000 – 350'000
• USD 385'000 – 495'000
• EUR 360'500 – 463'500

For more information, please visit onlywatch.com