BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Audemars Piguet’s most assertive and recognizable watch, the AP Royal Oak Jumbo, underwent a massive, albeit possibly long overdue, change just over a year ago. We bid the ref. 15202 farewell and welcomed the ref. 16202. The new year demands new changes, and Audemars Piguet complied, the result is that the Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin model (ref. 16202BC) from Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet has been updated with a new-grained dial.
The PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) treatment and translucent coating emphasize the relief and brilliance of the dial and evoke the color of a clear night sky above Le Brassus enabled by the dial’s blue tone. The Tapisserie pattern has been replaced with a grainy texture, which is more refined and brighter in the new Jumbo 16202. This grainy texture was inspired by the platinum reference 14802, created in 1992 for the 20th anniversary of the Royal Oak. Super-LumiNova is infused into the Royal Oak hands and hour markers made of white gold. For visual harmony, the date window at 3 o’clock has a blue background to match the dial.
The case is made from heavier and more expensive 18k white gold and is sized in the classic Jumbo dimensions of 39 mm x 8.1 mm. It has a distinctive octagonal bezel secured by eight visible hexagonal gold screws, The angular design of the watch is highlighted by the alternation of satin-brushed surfaces and polished bevels. Water resistance is at 5 bar (50 meters).
The Caliber 7121, the most recent in-house ultra-thin movement, which was released in January 2022 to commemorate the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary, powers this limited edition and is visible through the transparent sapphire crystal caseback. This ultra-thin, bidirectional automatic movement measures 29.6 mm x 3.2 mm and has a power reserve of 55 hours due to a larger barrel and power-saving mechanism. The movement features handcrafted Côtes de Genève decorations, circular satin-finishing, snailing, circular graining, and polished angles. The beveling is done by machine, and the open-worked rotor and balance wheel mechanism are made of rose gold.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Blue Dial Ref 16202BC limited edition has a fully integrated white gold bracelet with an AP folding clasp. Available exclusively at Audemars Piguet boutiques with an MSRP of EUR 78,600 / USD 78,300.
Visit Audemars Piguet here.
