Bold and brilliant: two words that describe Audemars Piguet’s explorations last year of new ground in the materials of watchmaking. Through releases in Frosted Gold, Sand Gold, Chroma Gold and coloured forged carbon, the Manufacture from Le Brassus gives a brilliant demonstration of its expertise.
Frosted Gold and Crystal Sand, scintillating sparkle
Introduced in 2016, from a collaboration with the Italian jeweller Carolina Bucci, Frosted Gold produces an effect comparable to that of diamond-dusted gold. In 2024 it was given a new expression as two 34mm Royal Oak Selfwinding, in white gold or yellow gold. On both these models, the dial has a distinctive Crystal Sand finish whose shimmering texture suggests the brilliance of ruthenium crystals. Alternating hammered and satin-brushed surfaces on the case and bracelet create a mesmerising play of light. In a word: brilliant!
Sand Gold, shades of the desert
In March last year, Audemars Piguet dazzled with a Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked (41mm) in Sand Gold. An alloy of gold enriched with palladium and copper, Sand Gold’s colour shifts between rose and white gold, reminiscent of sand dunes warmed by the sun’s rays. Poetic, aesthetic but also durable, this exclusive material is more resistant to fading than any traditional alloy. Audemars Piguet uses it to craft the watch’s case and bracelet, as well as the bridges and mainplate of its movement, Calibre 2972, thus creating a perfect visual harmony between exterior and interior. Audemars Piguet returned to its new gold standard with a modern vision of a model from 1960: the automatic [RE]Master02 whose asymmetrical case is crafted from… Sand Gold.
Chroma Gold of many colours
The watch world’s jaw hit the floor last spring at the unveiling of a prototype 34mm Royal Oak in polychrome gold whose camouflage pattern is obtained by sintering yellow, rose and white gold powders. “This multi-coloured gold opens a new chapter in exploring precious materials to offer unprecedented design to both our creations and our clients,” declared Lucas Raggi, Research and Development Director at Audemars Piguet. Watch this space for more iterations of this patented material; a fantastic illustration of the avant-garde spirit of a brand which has always blazed its own, often disruptive trail.
Coloured forged carbon, a composite revolution
A pioneer — since 2007 — of forged carbon, the subject of several years’ research and development, the Le Brassus watchmaker opted for an impressive two-tone aesthetic for the 43mm case of a Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date. Wavering between black and blue, its futuristic design pairs the darker accents of the openworked dial with electric blue highlights. And if that’s not enough originality for you, Audemars Piguet has incorporated luminescent blue pigments into the carbon fibre caseband, guaranteeing that this Royal Oak will stand out even in the dark.
Without ever straying from the style of its iconic models, Audemars Piguet continues its boundary-pushing innovation, proving that it is always at the cutting edge of expertise, aligned with its creative spirit. Never has the brand’s Seek Beyond slogan seemed more fitting, with the promise of many marvels yet to come: particularly in this 150th anniversary year for the brand.
