The Iconic Jumbo Makes a Comeback in Platinum.

 

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is recognized as a legendary model. It's iconic status was officially confirmed by the jury of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) in 2019, when the latest version at the time — the Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin — was named best in its class and awarded the Iconic Watch Prize.

 

The Jumbo is back this year as one of Audemars Piguet's multiple March premieres. Not only has this watch surprised the public with its interesting design in the past, its price tag of 3300 CHF also set the bar higher for stainless steel models. Now its case is made of the most prestigious metal of all — platinum.

This isn't the first time platinum has been used in the collection. The Royal Oak Jumbo was also unveiled in a platinum case with a platinum bracelet for the company's 125th anniversary. It was 39 mm in diameter like the 2021 novelty and the historic original, which was considered chunky in 1972, hence the nickname "Jumbo".

 

The 2000 watch was going to be a 125-piece release, but there were doubts regarding the level of demand it was expected to generate, and in the end the figure was scaled down to eight. A 70-piece release was set for another earlier platinum watch with an onyx dial and diamond-set hour-markers. Other watches released in platinum are the 41 mm Royal Oak Tourbillon and Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar. 

 

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' Extra-Thin Ref. 15202
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' Extra-Thin Ref. 15202
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' Extra-Thin Ref. 15202
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' Extra-Thin Ref. 15202

The fact that this year's Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin is platinum isn't the only thing that's different about it. The model is the first watch from the 15202 series to combine a luscious smoked green dial with a sunburst pattern as opposed to the more conventional Grande or Petite Tapisserie patterns.

 

The color green has also been used in other 2021 releases — in the Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph and the Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon models. The platinum Jumbo is equipped with the AP Selfwinding Manufacture Caliber 2121, which can be viewed through the watch's transparent caseback. The movement with a solid hallmark 917 gold rotor has a minimum power reserve of 40 hours.