At the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2018 (Geneva, January 15-19), Audemars Piguet is launching a great number of new references in a wide array of colours, material combinations and design features.
Among them, the new Royal Oak RD#2 takes centre stage as the world’s thinnest self-winding perpetual calendar timepiece at just 6.30 mm thick, a new watchmaking record.
Audemars Piguet Royal RD#2 Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin
Also, there is the world’s thinnest full size oscillating rotor perpetual calendar movement with a total thickness of 2.89mm only. Although it is so thin, the new movement maintains the same power reserve of 40 hours and the same frequency (2.75 Hz / 19,800 vibrations per hour) as calibre 5134. 37 jewels self-winding movement is composed of 256 individual parts and is visible through the glareproofed sapphire crystal caseback.
The watch has taken five years to develop, since Audemars Piguet had to re-engineer a three-storey movement into a single level, making it ultra-thin while combining and re-arranging functions to enhance ergonomy, efficiency and robustness.
The case measures 41mm in diameter and stands out with its octagonal bezel, which became a signature of the brand. It is made of platinum –one of the most precious metals on earth.
Audemars Piguet Royal RD#2 Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin
The model’s case is equipped with scratch resistant sapphire crystals on both sides and it is water resistant to 20 meters which is an adequate rate for such an elegant model. The RD # 2 engraving, located on the rear side of the watch, is only one of the model-specific details.
The blue “Grande Tapisserie” pattern dial, now associates with the Royal Oak model family, is designed in a very minimalistic way that allows the user to read a variety of information without being eye-straining. Positioning the moon phase indicator, which is an indispensable feature for the perpetual calendar complication, at 12 o’clock is definitely a brilliant choice as the brand pays homage to its very first perpetual calendar model issued back in 1955 by this detail. Apart from this, it is also possible to read the day, date, month, year and day/night indicators from the dial as well.
The watch comes on 950 platinum bracelet with AP folding clasp.
