Audemars Piguet presents three new Royal Oak colours using an unprecedented ceramic shade inspired by the iconic 'Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50' colour developed in 1972 for the dial of the first Royal Oak (Ref. 5402).
In the heart of the Swiss Jura, the night sky has always held a special fascination for the inhabitants of the Vallée de Joux, Audemars Piguet continues to write its own history of watchmaking excellence. The iconic shade 'Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50' is now a tribute to the territory that saw the birth of the Maison in 1875, becoming a distinctive element characterising the visual identity of the brand.
The new ceramic in the shade 'Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50' is introduced on three models, one Royal Oak and two Royal Oak Offshore, thus celebrating the indissoluble link between Audemars Piguet and its land of origin. Two of these models feature a case and bracelet made entirely of blue ceramic, enhancing this particular shade to the utmost.
However, this shade is not simply a colour, but rather a visual narrative that tells the story of Audemars Piguet and its relationship with its natural surroundings. Indeed, the sky of the Vallée de Joux, with its nocturnal hues, has been an inexhaustible source of inspiration for the brand's craftsmen, profoundly influencing the aesthetics of their watches.
Blue ceramics: homage to the sky of the Vallée de Joux
The models affected by the use of this new ceramic are a Royal Oak Double Balance Skeleton and two Royal Oak Offshore chronographs.
Developments in the field of ceramics constitute a fundamental pillar of Audemars Piguet's production philosophy. The Manufacture continues to push the boundaries of its technical know-how, exploring new possibilities in terms of component colouring and finishing.
The process of working with coloured ceramics requires specialised skills that Audemars Piguet has perfected over the years, combining traditional techniques with innovative approaches. This fusion of historical heritage and avant-garde spirit fully represents the motto 'Seek Beyond' that guides the Maison.
Audemars Piguet is the only major watch manufacturer still run by its founding families. This continuity has also made it possible to hand down craftsmanship techniques through generations of master watchmakers, preserving an authentic and distinctive identity in the haute horlogerie scene. At its historical headquarters in Le Brassus, Audemars Piguet has trained talents who have constantly expanded the company's savoir-faire, contributing to revolutionary trends in the industry.
These new Royal Oak all employ manufacture movements
These are calibre 3132 for the three-ball model and calibre 4401 and 4404 for the chronographs.
The Manufacture calibres 3132 (used on the Royal Oak Double Balance Skeleton with a 41 mm case), 4401 and 4404 (for the Royal Oak Offshore chrono version), are visible through the sapphire glass backs.. The automatic calibre 3132 (21,600 vibrations per hour, 45-hour power reserve), finely skeletonised and also visible from the dial side, is a double balance mechanism patented by Audemars Piguet in 2016, which gives the watch greater precision and stability.
The automatic chronograph calibre 4404 (28,800 vibrations per hour, 70-hour power reserve) is equipped with a flyback function and date display, and uses a column wheel. It is used on the Royal Oak Chronograph with a 42 mm blue ceramic case combined with a bracelet in the same material. Finally, the automatic calibre 4401, again a flyback chronograph with date and column wheel, is used on the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph with a 43 mm steel case combined with a blue ceramic bezel, pushers and crown. The blue strap is made of textured calfskin in the shade "Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50″. The watch comes with a second rubber strap in the same colour.
About this new blue shade of ceramic used by Audemars Piguet, Ilaria Resta, Chief Executive Officer of Audemars Piguet, said: "The sky of the Vallée de Joux has played a fundamental role in the history of Audemars Piguet, inspiring the shade 'Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50', which today is one of the brand's distinctive elements. The launch of this new ceramic is a tribute both to the region and its talents, and to our relentless pursuit of innovation'. The shade "Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50" affects not only the ceramics used on these Royal Oaks, but also their dials (in the case of the solotempo, only the flange). Finally, the chronographs are water-resistant up to 10 atmospheres, the solotempo up to 5 atmospheres.
Prices102,400 euros (Royal Oak Double Balance Skeleton); 86,100 euros (Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph with bracelet); 43,400 euros (Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph with strap).
