Watches Wednesday: Audemars Piguet x Ralph & Russo Royal Oak Selfwinding and Concept Flying Tourbillon
4 November 2020

Watches Wednesday: Audemars Piguet x Ralph & Russo Royal Oak Selfwinding and Concept Flying Tourbillon

Audemars Piguet has collaborated with British luxury fashion house Ralph & Russo. This partnership sees the reimagination of 2 of the Maison’s latest modelsv– the Royal Oak and Royal Oak Concept – both of which are intended to complement the design house’s Spring/Summer 2021 Ready-to-Wear collection. Call it the perfect marriage between Haute Horlogerie and Haute Couture, if you will.

We have long been admirers as well as clients of Audemars Piguet and their exceptional watches, and as such, we were thrilled by the prospect of a partnership. Beyond our personal affinity for the brand, we felt a strong connection and alignment through our mutual dedication to both uncompromising craftsmanship and the creation of wonderfully unique styles that withstand the test of time. Given we both share the same core values and ethos for our respective brands, we feel this is just the beginning of what we hope will be a longstanding relationship and look forward to officially launching our partnership with Audemars Piguet this fall. ~ Tamara Ralph & Michael Russo, Creative Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ralph & Russo ~

As we know, the watchmaking Maison debuted the new 34mm Royal Oak Selfwinding to suit smaller wrists earlier this year. For this collaboration with Ralph & Russo, they have introduced 4 additional models powered by the same selfwinding calibre 5800 : 2 in stainless steel with a silver-toned or blue-Grey Grande Tapisserie dial, with the latter embellished with a diamond-set bezel; an 18k pink gold version, and a two-toned model which is a combination of stainless steel, and an 18k pink gold bezel and bracelet, with silver-toned Grande Tapisserie dial.

Next, is possibly our favourite, their reinterpretation of the new Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon . Available in 18 carat pink- or white- Frosted Gold, the dial is what makes this timepiece a showstopper, and also why we absolutely adore this one. Composed of multiple layers, the design is that of concentric circles that gives off the illusion of depth, with each layer diving deeper and deeper into the abyss, mirrored by the intensification of the blues from the outside towards the centre. At 6 o’clock, you’d find the flying tourbillon cage with openworked gold-toned concentric circles with brilliant-cut diamonds at its centre, a design that echoes the dial’s. On tis casebook you’d also notice the hand-wound Calibre 2694 flying tourbillon also in a circular formation, once again, bears thematic similarity with the dial’s design, making this timepiece entirely cohesive in terms of design, from front, to back. Truly hypnotic, that’s what this Limited Edition watch is.

 

Images courtesy of Audemars Piguet