Audemars Piguet launches two new Royal Oak Fristkin automatic chronographs
Swiss high-end watch manufacturer Audemars Piguet is pleased to announce the launch of two new versions of the Royal Oak frosted gold self-winding chronograph, equipped with the latest generation of chronograph movement Calibre 4401, which can now be seen through the sapphire caseback. Both 41 mm watches are made of 18 carats of white gold or rose gold. They are paired with “Grande Tapisserie” black or blue dials and contrast dials to match the color of the case.
Tonal contrast
Audemars Piguet best matched the hue of the case and bracelet with the hue of the counter located on the “Grande Tapisserie” dial. The white gold version uses a black dial with a contrasting rhodium chronograph, while the rose gold version combines a blue dial with a pink-gold chronograph. The drama of contrast enhances readability and gives the composition a modern and elegant appearance. The applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands are made of 18-carat gold and decorated with a luminous coating to complement the tone of the case. The minute counter and hour counter have been repositioned to improve legibility, while the date window is located closer to the inner bezel.
A manual process
The case and bracelet are decorated with frosted gold and polished chamfers, which emit a sparkling light under the action of light. The frosted gold finish is inspired by ancient Florentine jewelry techniques, reinterpreted by Carolina Bucci in her contemporary jewelry creations. Jewelry designers assisted the craftsmen of the watch factory to develop it into a watch craft suitable for the Royal Oak case and bracelet. Tap the case and bracelet with a diamond tip tool to get the “diamond powder” effect. This manual process injects small dents on various surfaces, presenting a brilliant appearance similar to gemstones.
The fully integrated chronograph can be seen through the sapphire case back
The core of this watch is the manufacturer’s latest generation chronograph movement, the self-winding Calibre 4401, which can now be seen through the sapphire case back. It is fully integrated, with column wheel and flyback function. Unlike ordinary chronographs, the flyback function allows the wearer to stop, reset and start the chronograph with a simple action. The column wheel and the vertical clutch system work together. When the chronograph is started or stopped, the hands will react accordingly without any signs of beating. In addition, the button feels smooth when pressed. The patented reset mechanism ensures that each counter pointer instantly resets to zero.
Dance of the Hammers
On the sapphire caseback of the Royal Oak Frosted Gold Automatic Chronograph, you can see the so-called “dance” of the integrated chronograph column wheel and chronograph hammer. *In addition, the wearer can see a 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight and exquisite finishes, including “Côtes de Genève”, round grains, round satin and entire polished chamfers.