As the brand’s 150th anniversary celebrations continue, Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet has unveiled its latest innovation: the limited-edition Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ Extra-Thin Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 which marks a new era in the history of chronographs and is the last iteration of the RD series.
The company’s Research and Development department took five years to develop the exceptional timepiece which houses the all-new Calibre 8100, whose inner workings have been entirely reimagined and patented to meet the expectations of the most discerning collectors. Every detail has been meticulously crafted, pushing the boundaries of ergonomic design to redefine the touch-sensitivity of chronograph push-pieces.
Notably, the RD#5 features a rare instant jump minute counter alongside an hour counter and – for the first time in the Royal Oak collection – combines a flyback chronograph with a flying tourbillon. Limited to 150 pieces, this milestone creation is crafted from titanium and precious bulk metallic glass (BMG) to offer a balance of lightness, durability and brilliance.
Ergonomics at your Fingertips
From the outset, the RD#5 project was led by a desire to create a chronograph that offers an elevated level of comfort. Its development was guided by a comprehensive ergonomic study – encompassing the movement, case and design – to identify user expectations and create tailored solutions to meet them. In keeping with the brand’s focus on innovation, this approach signals a new way of addressing both the client experience and the conception of complicated timepieces.
The first innovation lies in the push-pieces flanking the crown positioned at 3 o’clock. In a contemporary chronograph, these typically require significant pressure to engage.
“Their travel – that is the distance they must be pressed – is often 1mm or more and requires a force of around 1.5kg,” explained Giulio Papi, Director of Watchmaking Design.
“Our aim was to reduce these values to enhance the client experience, drawing inspiration from smartphone buttons which typically have a travel of 0.3mm and require 300 grams of force.”
The concept of tactile comfort in chronograph push-pieces was already present in models from the 1950s and 60s, though it required meticulous adjustment by artisans. With the arrival of water-resistant seals and the rise of industrialisation in the 1970s, however, the force required to activate chronograph push-pieces increased significantly. Today, Audemars Piguet’s innovation in this area serves to deliver its clientele a smoother user experience.
In addition, the RD#5 features a crown with a function selector that integrates a push-piece with a visual indicator for two positions – winding and time-setting. This easy-to-use and discreet selection system replaces the traditional crown inherited from pocket watches, while respecting the original aesthetics of the Royal Oak.
Finally, to preserve the finesse of the ‘Jumbo’ while accommodating for its dual complication, Audemars Piguet’s engineers opted for the inclusion of sapphire crystals known as a ‘glass box’ on both the dial and caseback. While completely flat on the outside, the crystals are hollowed on the inside to create additional space for the rotation of the hands as well as for the movement and its oscillating weight.
The Last Iteration of the RD Series
After ten years of the RD series, it is time to turn a new page and accelerate innovation at Audemars Piguet as the Manufacture will be entering the next 150 years of its history. The pioneering spirit of the RD series is expanding and cross pollinating thanks to the creation of the AP Fabrication Laboratories – dedicated spaces for research, prototyping, experimentation and cross-disciplinary collaboration. These Fab Labs will enable faster and more agile developments, tackling all dimensions of the product: ergonomics, materials, design, métiers d’art, etc.
Fab Labs will be a permanent feature of AP’s innovation ecosystem and will provide the environment for the next generations of breakthroughs.
For more information, please visit www.audemarspiguet.com.