Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar

CASE : ceramic, sapphire back, water-resistant to 20m

DIAMETER : 41mm

MOVEMENT : mechanical self-winding (Caliber 5134, 40-hour power reserve)

FUNCTIONS : hours, minutes, perpetual calendar (date, day, week, month, leap years, moon phase)

DIAL : gray and black, luminescent hands and hour-markers

BRACELET : ceramic, titanium folding clasp

Selected in the “Calendar” category of the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar 2017 takes the opposite approach to that of its 2016 version, which opted for tradition by taking part in the grand comeback of yellow gold, instead adopting a resolutely high-tech exterior in black ceramic. This highly resistant, almost scratchproof material is extremely difficult to master. To ensure a perfect, hand-finished result, the result alone calls for 30 hours of work – which is five times more than its steel equivalent. The “Grande Tapisserie” dial motif typical of the collection takes on a matching slate gray shade that offsets the photographic realism of the astronomical moon phase. The perpetual calendar is inseparable from the history of Audemars Piguet, which in 1955 was the first to present a model equipped with a leap-year indicator. Born in the sporting chic category, the Royal Oak is now at ease in all stylistic veins. In last year’s GPHG, the Concept Supersonnerie model distinguished itself by winning the Mechanical Exception Watch Prize.