The First Openworked AP Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon

An exquisite debut in honor of the Royal Oak collection's anniversary.

In 1986, Audemars Piguet launched the ref. 25643 watch equipped with caliber 2870 — the first series of self-winding tourbillon movements to be produced. The engine powering this watch featured some other revolutionary feats. It had the first tourbillon made of titanium, which is why it only weighed 0.123 g with its carriage restricted to 7.2 mm in diameter and case height measuring just 5.3 mm.

AP's novelty is the first openworked flying tourbillon movement, so it also brings to mind the 36th anniversary of caliber 2870, although the Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked is dedicated to Royal Oak's 50th anniversary. Royal Oak was only given its first flying tourbillon in 1997 when the collection turned 25.

That was when the 25831 model was released with a tourbillon framed in an unusual octagonal window, echoing the shape of the Royal Oak bezel. Two years later, and another Royal Oak was born with a tourbillon and skeletonized movement. The new skeleton has arrived in time for the golden anniversary, laying bare the shifts in what's fashionable for watches.

Where have the sophisticated tracks on the counters gone, including the hour and minute scales with classic Roman numerals seen on the openworked tourbillon from 1999? In 2022, the manufacture decided to look to the future with a monochrome design, completely scrapping all additional scales and leaving absolutely nothing unnecessary on the dial.

Only the technical prowess of the Audemars Piguet 2972 movement is to be seen, comprised of 271 components. The movement boasting a 65-hour power reserve was given a thorough finishing, including traits tirés combined with polished chamfers on the bezel.  Caliber 2972 is the descendant of the traditional caliber 2950 Audemars Piguet, introduced to Code 11.59 collection in 2019. 

The case measuring 41 mm in diameter is made of stainless steel like the first Royal Oak watches unveiled at the Swiss Watch Show in 1972, later renamed BaselWorld, canceled and resurrected. The designers pulled out all the stops to maintain a unified color scheme, who even went as far as giving the pink-gold commemorative 2022 anniversary rotor a rhodium coating.

The white-gold applied hour markers and hands also help keep the palette harmonious. The satin brushing which runs from the movement to the bezel and bracelet pairs well with the polished chamfers of the bracelet and bezel. Thanks to the play on light this creates, the monochrome Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked is anything but monotonous.