You’d never exactly say the Royal Oak is particularly obscure, but that hasn’t stopped Audemars Piguet from releasing them under the radar without much fanfare. Their latest take on the Royal Oak Jumbo, for example, was simply merged onto their website, an impressive feat of restraint given that it’s a cool new version of a cult classic.
These aren’t your standard Royal Oaks. For one thing, the ultra-thin components are made of platinum or rose gold, rather than the classic steel. OK, I guess that’s not exactly groundbreaking nowadays, with plenty of precious metal sports watches even among Royal Oaks. More interesting are the diamond indexes.
With all the flash on the wrists of rappers like AP, it’s easy to forget that very few watches actually have diamond hour markers. Even rarer are the ones that don’t have gems anywhere but the indexes. And here we have it, set against a black onyx dial that contrasts geometrically with the iconic octagonal bezel and hexagonal screws.
The result is a nice new product — and understated as these things go — that takes the Jumbo and plays with the dress watch sensibilities of an ultra-thin timepiece and the sporty vibe of a Royal Oak. It flashes a bit of ice without shoving it in your face, and the platinum version at least requires a closer look to notice the wealth on display.
Not that you’re likely to be unlucky enough to see it. One reason for the lack of fanfare is likely that these watches are hard to come by. Not only will there be only 70 pieces, but the pieces will be sold exclusively by Tokyo-based retailer Yoshida.
Is it worth the trip to Japan? Probably. But don’t expect to leave anything behind when you can actually get there.
Price and Specs:
Brand: Audemars Piguet
Model: Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin Platinum/Diamond
References: 15206PT.OO.1240PT.01 (Platinum), 15207OR.OO.1240OR.01 (Rose Gold)
Case/Dial: 39mm diameter x 8.1mm thickness, Platinum or Rose Gold
Water Resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Calibre 212101, manual and automatic
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Frequency: 19,800 vph (2.75 Hz)
Power Reserve: 40h
Strap: Platinum or Rose Gold with AP folding clasp
Price: On request, limited to 70 pieces (Platinum) and $61,200, limited to 30 pieces (Rose Gold)
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