Grande Complication Royal Oak
Movement : mechanical self-winding Calibre 2885, 648 parts, openworked and finished by hand Case : white gold Diameter : 44 mm Functions : hours, minutes, small seconds, split-second chronograph, perpetual calendar (date, day, week, month, leap years and moon phases), minute repeater Dial : sapphire crystal, white counters, gold hands with luminescent coating Caseback : sapphire crystal Strap : black crocodile leather
Since 1882, the year Audemars Piguet presented its first Grande Complication pocket-watch, the brand has been perpetuating the art of combining the three types of function traditionally associated with this category of timepiece : a chronograph – now equipped with a split-second function ; a perpetual calendar ; and a striking mechanism. Today, hardly a year goes by without the House offering collectors one or several creations, individually made to order by a single watchmaker. In 2012, the 40th anniversary year of the Royal Oak, it was natural to present certain Grande Complication versions of the famous luxury sports watch, including the Grande Complication Royal Oak in white gold dedicated to the theme of transparency, yet without entirely unveiling its self-winding movement measuring a mere 8.55 mm thick. The culmination of 700 hours of work for the mechanism alone and of 120 hours of openworking, it features a classical structure on both the front and the back – which reveals the signature AP chased and skeletonised gold monobloc oscillating weight.
