Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet is pleased to unveil two new Royal Oak Double Balance Skeleton models for smaller wrists
These 37mm new creations are crafted in 18-carat white or rose gold, giving the watches an elegant tone-on-tone aesthetic that contrasts with the colored inner bezels in light blue or purple. Elegant and sophisticated, these two watches are equipped with a self-winding caliber 3132 movement, and their skeletonized construction highlights the dexterity of Audemars Piguet’s artisans.
Elegant Monochrome
The cases and bracelets of the two new 37mm Royal Oak Double Balance Skeleton models are crafted in 18K white or rose gold. This precious metal complements the collection’s signature refined finishes, alternating between polished and satin-brushed surfaces that shimmer in the light and highlight the Royal Oak’s geometric structure.
The color of the gold echoes the rhodium and pink gold-toned finishes of the movement, creating an elegant monochromatic aesthetic. In the 18K white gold version, the engraved pink gold hands and indices with luminescent material contrast with the rhodium-colored movement, while the light blue inner bezel highlights the movement’s many details. The pink gold version features white gold hands and indices, also filled with luminescent material. The pink gold-toned skeletonized movement is further highlighted by the vivid purple inner bezel, adding a touch of color and modernity to the watch. The “Audemars Piguet” logo is printed on the sapphire crystal back of both replica swiss watches.
Both watches come with a “large square scale” alligator leather strap that matches the color of the inner bezel, adding a touch of contrast and elegance to the design.
Patented automatic movement
These new models are equipped with the Calibre 3132 automatic movement with a double balance wheel. This patented innovation, launched by Audemars Piguet in 2016, improves the watch’s precision and stability. By assembling two balance wheels and two hairsprings on the same axis, the system can oscillate in perfect sync. The double balance wheel is visible on both sides of the case, allowing the heart of the watch to be seen.
The skeletonized bridges on both sides of the watch reveal parts of the gear train. Their geometry is cut using computer numerical control (CNC) machining and then finely machined to the desired shape. Each component is then finished and decorated using age-old techniques. The polished V-shaped angles reflect the craftsmanship that goes into the production process, as this level of precision can only be achieved by hand.
The skeletonized oscillating weight matches the color of the case and harmoniously completes the contrasting design of the new fashion watch.
The art of skeletonization
Skeletonization has been a hallmark of Audemars Piguet since the 1930s, combining beauty with function. The skeletonization technique involves removing as much material as possible from the mainplate and bridges to let light through, revealing the beauty and sophistication of the mechanism without compromising functionality. As such, skeletonization requires true watchmaking savoir-faire and a deep knowledge of materials and finishing techniques.
In the early 1970s, encouraged by their elders, several young watchmakers at Audemars Piguet decided to rediscover the skeletonization technique that had been gradually abandoned after the 1950s and set up the brand’s first workshop dedicated to this technique. Georges Golay, then Audemars Piguet’s director, was visionary and set an ambitious challenge for the craftsmen: to create 100 skeletonized watches with 2120 movements, a meticulous task that required 150 hours of production per movement. The first watch (reference 5442) was delivered in November 1973, and 30 more were delivered between then and 1976. In 1978, the Audemars Piguet watch factory produced 300 skeletonized watches equipped with 2120 movements. By 1984, the workshop employed more than a dozen craftsmen.
In the early days of the Royal Oak series, the movement was hidden inside the case. The advent of quartz redefined the rules of watchmaking, prompting the industry to showcase the beauty of mechanical movements and the traditional skills required to make them. Skeletonisation first appeared in 1981 on a Royal Oak pendant (reference 5710BA), followed in 1986 by reference 25636, which housed the ultra-thin perpetual calendar calibre 2120/2800. However, it was not until the 1990s, when Royal Oak models of all shapes and sizes emerged, that this delicate art found its place in the collection, debuting in 1992 in the “Jumbo” collection.
Over the decades, the Royal Oak collection has grown to include around 50 skeletonised wholesale cheap watches, each with a different movement, in a variety of sizes, materials and styles, all reflecting the passion and expertise passed down from generation to generation. Today, these new 37mm creations continue to combine craftsmanship with refined refinement.