Audemars Piguet expands the Frosted Royal Oak collection with a new 34mm model, featuring a shimmering white gold case with a hammered finish and a refreshing light blue dial. Five years ago, Audemars Piguet released a version of the iconic Royal Oak in frosted gold, not the iconic Royal Oak designed by Gérald Genta in 1972, but the equally iconic Royal Oak reimagined by Jacqueline Dimier in 1976 for women. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the women's version in 2016, the Royal Oak - 33mm (quartz) and 37mm (automatic) - was adorned with a sparkling hammered gold case created by Florentine jewelry designer Carolina Bucci.
Although the thought of using a hammer on a watch might make one's hair stand on end, Carolina Bucci - a fourth-generation jeweler from the Florentine Bucci dynasty - dominates the technique of hammering gold. Using a diamond-tipped tool to create tiny indentations in the metal results in a subtle sparkle that never looks ostentatious. The sparkling textured frosted surface, which looks as if the watch was just pulled from the freezer, is not only beautiful but also extremely durable and scratch-resistant.
As all our readers know, the steel Royal Oak watches released by Gérald Genta in 1972, with their imposing octagonal bezel, integrated bracelet, exposed screws, Tapisserie dial, and slightly industrial style, shook the watch world. A forerunner of the luxury sports watch genre, the Royal Oak was originally dubbed a watch with a “steel case and a golden heart.” Although these were not the first sports watches on the market - Rolex had been producing robust tool watches for decades - the Royal Oak was the first luxury sports watch on the market. A bold statement challenging the belief that the metal of a watch determines its value, the Royal Oak proved that the difference lies not in the metal but in the design and reliability of the movement.
The introduction of the hammered finish bracelet and case in 2016 was, like everything associated with the Royal Oak, bold but immediately won the hearts of RO fans of both genders. The Frosted Royal Oak model became a hit, and since its debut in 2016, it has been released in various versions, including the open-worked Double Balance Wheel models in gold measuring 41mm and 37mm, a daring 41mm white gold chronograph with a purple dial, and a less ostentatious white gold model with a dark silver dial equipped with a next-generation flyback automatic movement developed for the Code 11.59 collection.
Ice Baby
This year, Audemars Piguet expands the Frosted collection with a new 34mm model in white gold featuring a stunning light blue dial. While these watches mark the debut of the 34mm Frosted RO model, “regular” 34mm RO models appeared last year with an outsourced ultra-thin automatic movement in a black ceramic case or in steel and pink gold models. All 34mm models have the same case size and height and are water-resistant to 50 meters.
The latest Royal Oak Frosted Gold automatic model is crafted in a 34mm white gold case with an ultra-thin height of just 8.8mm. The shimmering hammered surfaces (case and integrated bracelet), reminiscent of the texture of diamond dust, contrast with the polished octagonal bevel of the bezel, eight screws on the bezel, the crown, and the outer edges of the middle case and the links forming the integrated bracelet.
The combination of the light blue dial with PVD-coated “Grande Tapisserie” and the matte gold elements of the case and applied hour markers in white gold is extremely attractive. A closer look reveals that the area under the embossed cushions on the Grande Tapisserie (waffle) pattern is also slightly granulated and matches the hammered gold case surface. As with all other Royal Oak models with date windows, the background matches the dial color to make it as discreet as possible. In this case, the date background is light blue with black numerals. The applied hour markers and hands in white gold are once again filled with a strip of luminescent coating.
Caliber 5800
Through the sapphire crystal case back, you can see the automatic caliber 5800 by AP. The Caliber 5800 - an oddity for AP - is not produced in-house but by Vaucher, known for its high-end calibers. This thin automatic movement (23.3mm x 3.9mm) was the natural choice for the 34mm Royal Oak model because the caliber 3120 would have been too large. The Caliber 5800, operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, has a solid 50-hour power reserve. The bridges are decorated with Côtes de Genève stripes. The rotor was specially designed for this 34mm version in pink gold with a matte central zone, matte surfaces, and polished bevels.
The 18-carat white gold hammered bracelet is secured to the wrist with an AP folding clasp. The retail price of the Royal Oak Frosted Gold Selfwinding model (Ref. 77353BC.GG.1263BC.01) is 49,800 euros.
More information on the Audemars Piguet website.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - AUDEMARS PIGUET ROYAL OAK FROSTED GOLD SELFWINDING 34MM
Case: 34mm diameter x 8.8mm thickness - 18-carat white gold, hammered, polished bevels - sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating over the dial, sapphire case back - water resistance 50m
Dial: light blue with “Grande Tapisserie” pattern - applied Royal Oak markers and hands in 18-carat white gold with luminescent coating - date aperture at 3 o'clock
Movement: caliber 5800, Vaucher base VMF 3000 - automatic - 23.3mm x 3.9mm - 189 components, including 28 jewels - 28,800 vibrations/hour - power reserve 50h - hours, minutes, seconds, date
Bracelet: integrated 18-carat white gold hammered bracelet - AP folding clasp
Reference: 77353BC.GG.1263BC.01
Price: 49,800 EUR