For any serious watch collector, the very mention of a Concept watch from Audemars Piguet is enough to send shivers down their spines. Concept watches are exemplary pieces, which showcase the savoir faire and the desire for design excellence of the brand. The Royal Oak Concept was first unveiled in 2002. The Royal Oak collection is no stranger to cutting edge as this series was the first ever luxury sports watch in stainless steel. The Royal Oak was designed by legendary watchmaker Gerald Genta in 1972, who introduced its easily recognizable octagonal case design. Since then, the Royal Oak has been the brand’s #1 seller worldwide, appealing to diverse demographics. This watch is set to be presented at the SIHH in 2014.
The Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon from Audemars Piguet is sculpted from titanium and it features a white ceramic bezel with titanium screws. Also in white ceramic are the screw locked crown, and pusher. AP chooses ceramic as a material of choice due to its almost 100% scratch resistant properties. Ceramic is 9 times harder than stainless steel and therefore is a perfect material for a sports oriented watch. This watch uses sapphire crystal as both the dial window and the case back allowing the wearer to view the movement inside this piece. This amazing watch features case dimensions of 44mm.
The dial is open worked showcasing the tourbillon at 9 in its carriage. The tourbillon complication was designed to counter the effects of gravity on the watch’s escapement by rotating once about itself every 60 seconds. The second time zone indicator can be viewed at the 3 position. At the 6 position is an indicator referring to the crown position. The H,N, and R refer to time setting, neutral, and winding respectively.
The movement is an in house made manual mechanical movement caliber 2930, which features a 10 day power reserve system due to AP’s patented parallel double barrel winding system. The movement alternates at 21,600 (3 Hz).
This timepiece is furnished with a 100 meter water resistance, and a white rubber strap fitted with a titanium AP folding clasp.
