Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie: Acoustic Indulgence in a Ceramic Case
For the first time, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie offers a minute repeater in a full ceramic case. The two new 42 mm variants of the Royal Oak with Minute Repeater and Supersonnerie integrate the latest research results from a long-standing collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. With the Supersonnerie mechanism and the minute repeater movement, calibre 2953, these watches offer acoustic indulgence despite the compromised sound propagation of ceramics.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie
The case measures 42 mm in diameter and 14 mm in height. It is crafted from black ceramic on zirconium oxide powder (ZrO2). After sintering at a temperature of over 1000°C, each component receives a pre-machining. Then, to finally achieve the typical alternation of satin finishes and polished bevels, the artisans finish the parts by hand. Meanwhile, eight white gold screws hold the result together. For the first time, the case back is also of black ceramic, which is a challenge for the sound quality. To counter this, air openings are cut into the back, which enable a clear sound. As a tribute to the complication, the manufacture engraves sound waves on the caseback. The water resistance is 20 metres.
The dial with “Grande Tapisserie” motif features applied indices. Alternatively, the second version offers 13 baguette-cut diamond indexes instead (~ 0.84 carats). The Royal Oak hands in white gold are luminescent and indicate the time together with the small seconds. Since the facelift of 2022, the Audemars Piguet lettering at 12 o’clock is galvanised. In this process, the watchmakers apply fine layers of gold on top of each other, similar to 3D printing.
The 2953 Calibre and the Supersonnerie
The Audemars Piguet 2953 enables the minute repeater. It consists of 362 individual parts and beats at a frequency of 21,600 beats per hour or 3 hertz. After being wound by hand, it offers a power reserve of 72 hours. With the help of the Supersonnerie technology presented in 2015, it achieves an extraordinary sound volume and resonance despite the difficult case material. The tone springs are not located on the main plate, as is usually the case, but on a titanium membrane that acts as a sounding board. Together with the openings at the bottom of the enclosure, a wide variety of case materials are possible while still achieving high sound quality.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie appears on a black rubber strap with titanium lugs and AP folding clasp. The price is 435,000 euros and 448,000 euros for the variant with diamond indices.
Black dial with Grande Tapisserie pattern, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands
with luminescent coating.
or
Black dial with Grande Tapisserie pattern, 13 baguette-cut diamond applied hour-markers (~ 0.84
carat) and white gold Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating.
STRAP/BRACELET
Black rubber strap with titanium studs and titanium AP folding clasp.
MOVEMENT
Audemars Piguet 2953
MOVEMENT TYPE
Hand-wound
POWER RESERVE
72 hours
FREQUENCY
21,600 vph (3 Hz)
FUNCTIONS
Minute Repeater Supersonnerie, hours, minutes and small seconds.
‘Very rare’ – thus H. Moser & Cie. defines itself. Yet the Schaffhausen-based horology house is now bringing forth an even rarer set of watches than usual in cooperation with the world's largest watch and jewellery retailer Bucherer, in the form of a beautiful Pioneer Tourbillon and two unique Endeavour Concept Minute Repeater Tourbillons. While…
Among the highlights of Chopard's releases at Watches & Wonders 2024 are two particularly attractive, vibrant models: a new Alpine Eagle Chrono and the L.U.C Forest Green. Both showcase handsome dial colours as well as equally high quality movements that one would indeed expect from the luxury maison. The Chopard Alpine Eagle Chrono The case…
McDonalds, Connected Cannabis, Dior, and now... Audemars Piguet? At first glance, this string of companies seemingly has very little to do with one another. Yet they all have one thing in common: they have all collaborated with Travis Scott's Cactus Jack brand. Audemars Piguet is the latest brand to become part of this very unusual…
Earlier this summer, Zenith unveiled this reinterpretation of the iconic A386 from 1969. Now follows a variant that is exclusively available in the brand's online shop. Appropriately, it is called the Chronomaster Original E-Commerce and has a slightly different dial. What remains, however, are the three coloured counters and the modern El Primero 3600 calibre…
When Piaget presented the world’s thinnest watch, the Altiplano Ultimate Concept, six years ago, it showed the world exactly what masterful, high-precision work can look like. With the invention of the caliber 9P, Piaget can already draw on 67 years of experience in the manufacturing of ultra-thin movements. To celebrate its 150th anniversary, the brand…
Louis Vuitton's very own Metiers d'Art is introducing three new 'Cabinet of Wonders' pieces, all of which are Escale models. The very special watches are limited editions of a mere twenty pieces each. The romantic trio of Escale watches, which appear to take inspiration from Japan, are titled Koï's Garden, Snake's Jungle, and Dragon's Cloud.…
The Porsche Design Globetimer has been part of the brand's product range since 2019 and offers a unique take on the time zone function. Its pushers, which are in the style of a chronograph, can be used to move the hour hand forwards or backwards. The date follows along in both directions. Derived from the…
The new Oris Aquis Whale Shark Limited Edition draws attention to the threat facing the whale shark. The whale shark is the largest fish on earth and is now on the IUCN list of endangered species. In honour of the species, the new special edition has a dial inspired by the whale shark's skin. It…
Swiss watch manufacture Oris has several pieces of good news to share with the watch world right now. Having recently completed its second sustainability report, it's evident that the company is meeting its sustainability goals. These are being achieved alongside the development of a number of environmental projects developed as part of the ‘Better for…
Last year, Blancpain and Swatch released five watches dedicated to the world's five oceans as part of their collaboration. Just in time for the new year and the day of the new moon, another timepiece has now been added to the existing Bioceramic Scuba Fifty Fathoms collection. The Ocean of Storms was inspired by the new moon, also known…
Back in the 1920s, Swiss watch manufacture Longines created its first pilot's watch with a rotating bezel. Then, in the early 1930s, the watchmaker went on to develop a wristwatch with a rotating bezel featuring a luminous index at 12 o’clock. Among other things, pilots principally used this design to calculate flight time. Five years…
The Parmigiani Fleurier L'Armoriale Répétition Mystérieuse was presented on the occasion of Michel Parmigiani's birthday on 2nd December and pays tribute to the vision and expertise of the Maison's founder. It features a minute repeater with cathedral gongs, a manual movement, and a unique design inspired by nature. The watch also has a secret dial that reveals…
The Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacture Audemars Piguet is introducing two new versions of the Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked and two new models of the Royal Oak Frosted Gold Automatic in 18-carat white or yellow gold. The new models with a diameter of 37 mm and 34 mm are designed for its followers with…