BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Since its genesis in the year 1972, the Royal Oak has been the driving force behind Audemars Piguet. While the overall aesthetic hasn’t changed much the Royal Oak collection has constantly evolved over the years and one of the major changes took place in 2017 when the brand came up with its first ever all ceramic Royal Oak in black. For 2019, Audemars Piguet has yet again shown interest in the material and has introduced a new version of the Royal Oak with a perpetual calendar complication this time around fully clad in white ceramic.
Starting with the case you have a familiar Royal Oak aesthetic featuring sharp angular lines and the signature octagonal bezel on top. The case measures 41mm wide and is just 9.5mm thick making for a slim profile on the wrist, further supported by the integrated bracelet which like the case has also been crafted from white ceramic. Finishing on the case is stunning with a nice mix of brushed and polished surfaces. There is a sapphire crystal on both front and back and the case is water resistant to a mere 20 meters which sounds disappointingly low for a sports watch.
Akin to the case, the dial also exhibits the Royal Oak DNA through the distinctive and beautiful Tapisserie pattern which has been rendered in a subdued shade of blue. Characterizing the dial are four silver sub-registers which display the perpetual calendar functions and provide a nice contrast against the blue backdrop. This implementation of the calendar complication is commendable as it keeps the symmetry of the dial intact and helps improve overall legibility.
Powering this watch is Audemars Piguet’s in-house ultra slim caliber 5134. This is an automatic movement which operates at a frequency of 19800 bph and offers a power reserve of 40 hours. The movement has been beautifully decorated and can be viewed in all its glory through the display case back.
The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in white ceramic is a great looking watch that offers some nice useful functionality wrapped inside a durable package. Like the black ceramic version this new watch would also be sold exclusively through Audemars Piguet boutiques and would retail at a price of CHF 94,300.
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