It glides from one wrist to another without any gender-based distinctions, indulging in every kind of fancy. By turns It glides from one wrist to charming, flirtatious, frivolous or serious, Royal Oak is one of those versatile collections whose irresistible aura transcends genres, trends and sizes.
Following in the footsteps of a miniature 1997 Royal Oak, the Manufacture’s icon is now available in a trio of Royal Oak Mini models. 23mm is all it takes to produce a ‘maxi’ effect. The secret of its beauty lies in the power of the edgy design first sketched in 1972, which Audemars Piguet now combines with the Frosted Gold aesthetic within a very compact format.
Jewel-like radiance
Watch or jewelry? White, yellow or pink gold? This trio of miniature watches at the crossroads of watchmaking and jewelry refuses to choose between them. The two signature features remain the Royal Oak’s inimitable shape and strong character. The dial is adorned with a tone-on-tone Petite Tapisserie motif reinforcing the light effects produced by the hammered finish of the case and bracelet. While the Royal Oak Mini flaunts a jewelry-like appearance, it also resolutely ‘owns’ its role as a watch. Audemars Piguet has opted for quartz Caliber 2730 to beat time and indicate the hours and minutes with over seven years of autonomy. To prolong its life, a “contactor” enables the battery to be temporarily deactivated by pulling on the crown. The simple yet brilliant latter idea reflects the overall nature of these models as described by Audemars Piguet’s CEO Ilaria Resta: “These mini creations pay tribute not only to Audemars Piguet’s long tradition of miniature and jewelry watches but also to the women who have left their mark on the history of the brand, including Jacqueline Dimier, to whom we owe the first feminine Royal Oak, and Carolina Bucci, the mastermind of the Frosted Gold finish.”
Dazzling light effects
This is not the first time the Manufacture has used this gold hammering technique. Collaborating with Audemars Piguet’s artisans, Carolina Bucci adapted it to watchmaking in 2016 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Royal Oak Lady unveiled in 1976. By means of subtle hammering using a diamond-tipped tool, the precious metal is adorned with an extremely fine grained pattern reflects the light with every wrist movement. On the Royal Oak Frosted Gold Selfwinding, the 34mm white or yellow gold case and integrated bracelet are adorned with this radiant finish, which is matched by a new “Crystal Sand” rhodium – or gold-plated dial whose embossed pattern resembles ruthenium crystals. Reinforced by the Royal Oak’s classic alternating polished and satin-brushed finishes, this dazzling play on light and textures could almost divert the gaze from the passing of time accurately marked off by selfwinding Caliber 5800. On the reverse side of the case, the eye delights in the movement’s delicate finishes, including Côtes de Genève, satin brushing, sunburst patterns, circular-graining and polished chamfers – all revealed beneath the 22K pink gold oscillating weight. After all, the Royal Oak remains a mechanical jewel, a must-have that is always perfectly dressed for every occasion in all its multiple facets.
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