In 2015 the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar returns to center stage with 4 different versions (2 in steel, 2 in pink gold). Continuing the shift in watch case size that began in 2012, the new Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar is now 41 mm, yet, still extremely thin. The enlarged size of Royal Oak 41 mm watch has resulted in a “Grande Tapisserie” dial design that immensely increases the overall aesthetics, balance and legibility of the perpetual calendar indications. I adore the Rose gold versions. Audemars Piguet Rose Gold watch price is SGD $134,200 and Royal Oak Steel price is SGD $85,400.
The layout of the Royal Oak 2015 watch dial includes all of the traditional indications of a perpetual calendar watch: day, date, highly detailed astronomical moon, month and leap year. In addition, the 52 weeks of the year are indicated by an outer chapter ring with corresponding central hand, adding another layer of time measurement. I’m in love with the Pink Gold AP Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar watch.
The new automatic caliber 5134 is based on its predecessor, calibre 2120, however it has been enlarged in accordance with the updated 41mm case size. The highly finished 4.31 mm thick movement is fully visible through the glare-proof sapphire crystal caseback. The thinner the movement, the more complex it is to adjust and assemble its parts as it requires extraordinary skills to work on components which are sometimes as thin as a human hair.
However all finishing operations are performed by hand in accordance with the highest standards of Haute Horlogerie:
The suspended barrel, which helps achieving extra thinness, is adorned with circular Côtes de Genève, and the wheels are circular satin-brushed.
The mainplate is circular-grained while all bridges are beveled and adorned with Côtes de Genève, the flanks are satin-brushed and all bevels are polished.
The 22-carat gold monobloc oscillating weight is engraved with “Audemars Piguet”, and its external segment is adorned with a “tapisserie” motif echoing the iconic pattern of the royal oak dials.
Interesting fact: One of the earliest perpetual calendar watches that is part of the Audemars Piguet museum was made even before the company was established. Jules Louis Audemars’ school watch was completed in its first incarnation prior to 1875, and transformed in the workshops over the following two decades. The complicated 18-carat pink gold pocket-watch masterpiece combined a perpetual calendar with a quarter repeating mechanism, and included the rarely seen independent deadbeat second function.
Audemars Piguet Rose Gold perpetual calendar watch price is SGD $134,200 and Perpetual calendar Royal Oak Steel 2015 price is SGD $85,400
