Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet has unveiled a limited edition of the Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon which is designed for the Middle East.
Featuring a futuristic CFT carbon case middle, a black ceramic bezel and a two-tone architectural dial, the special edition was conceived in collaboration with loyal collectors from the United Arab Emirates, who were given the unique opportunity to share their creative input with the AP design teams during a Create the Extraordinary workshop held in Dubai in June 2022 – a first in the world of fine watchmaking.
Combining traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology, this reference embodies the passion, spirit of innovation and collaboration that the Manufacture has been fostering for generations.
The 42mm Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon features a case middle crafted in Chroma Forged Technology (CFT) carbon – a new material introduced in September 2024 on the Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date.
CFT carbon is obtained by colouring small pieces of carbon fibres and layering them several times with resin in a mould. The content of the mould is then compressed to release air bubbles before the mixture is placed in an autoclave oven to cure under pressure for about ten hours, producing a carbon block that is machined into the final component.
Developed by Audemars Piguet’s R&D team, this patented process allows a wide variety of creative possibilities, as the random setting of the fibres offers a one-of-a-kind rendering revealed after the component is manufactured.
For the special edition, the distinctive forged carbon case middle is enhanced with metallic bronze hues, while the black ceramic bezel, screw-locked crown and decorative push-piece guards emphasise the watch’s ultracontemporary design. The two-tone architectural dial features a black inner bezel and matching bridges, contrasted with pink gold inserts that echo the balance wheel and luminescent hour-markers and hands.
The mesh decorations at 4, 8 and 12 o’clock further the high-tech aesthetic, while subtly revealing the hand-wound Calibre 2978 ticking within. On the back of the watch, the black ceramic caseback frame is combined with a pink-gold inner bezel featuring the name Royal Oak Concept and a sapphire crystal offering a view of the movement’s laser decorations mirroring the dial.
This futuristic wristwatch is completed by a black rubber strap. Fitted with the interchangeability system, the watch also comes with a large square scale alligator strap for a touch of elegance.
For more information, please visit www.audemarspiguet.com.