Emmanuel, known as quattro on WatchProSite, offers a definitive pictorial retrospective on Audemars Piguet's groundbreaking Research & Development (RD) series. With the recent release of RD#5 marking the series' conclusion, Emmanuel's comprehensive overview provides invaluable context for understanding the horological innovations that have defined AP's forward-thinking spirit over the past decade. His detailed post, rich with imagery and technical specifications, serves as an essential guide for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
As the recently released RD#5 is supposed to be the last in Audemars Piguet's Research & Development series, I thought some of us might enjoy going through the pieces of this spectacular horological saga one by one.
So here's a pictorial overview of RD#1 to 5.
Best, Emmanuel
A/ RD#1: ROYAL OAK CONCEPT SUPERSONNERIE (2015)
1/ Ref. 26576TI.OO.D002CA.01
44 x 16.5 mm titanium case
Presented in 2015, Audemars Piguet’s patented Supersonnerie technology resulted from 8 years of development in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL).
Inspired by the sonic power of older minute repeater watches as well as by the harmony of musical instruments, a dedicated community of watchmakers, technicians, academics and musicians reviewed the case construction to produce a new chiming technology.
The patented gongs are not attached to the mainplate, but to a new device acting as soundboard, which prevents sound absorption and boosts amplification. The redesigned striking regulator eliminates unwanted noise thanks to its more flexible anchor system. This innovative Supersonnerie technology also provides a sharper tempo.
Calibre 2937 (3 hz 21600 vph): Minute repeater on two gongs, tourbillon, chronograph with central sweep-seconds hand, 30-minute counter, hours, minutes
credit: Monochrome & Audemars Piguet
2/ Ref. 26577TI.OO.D002CA.01
This reference is the production version of the previous one.
Titanium case, glareproofed sapphire crystal, titanium bezel, black ceramic screw-locked crown, black ceramic and titanium pushpieces, titanium pushpiece guards, water-resistant to 20 m.
Black dial, openworked, satin-brushed, black counters, white gold hands with luminescent coating, black inner bezel.
Black rubber strap with titanium AP folding clasp.
credit: HauteTime
3/ Ref. 26577IO.OO.D002CA.01
This third iteration marries a
titanium case with a
black ceramic bezel and a cutting-edge openworked dial highlighted with
pink gold tones.
Openworked dial, pink gold Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, pink gold-toned inner bezel.
Black rubber strap with titanium AP folding clasp.
credit: Audemars Piguet
B/ RD#2: ROYAL OAK SELFWINDING PERPETUAL CALENDAR ULTRA-THIN (2018)
Ref. 26586IP.OO.1240IP.01
Presented as a prototype at the SIHH in 2018
41 x 6.2 mm titanium case & polished 950 platinum bezel
Blue dial, satin-brushed, blue counters, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating.
Satin-brushed titanium bracelet with polished 950 platinum links and titanium AP folding clasp.
Calibre 5133 (2.75 hz 19800 vph): Perpetual calendar with day, date, astronomical moon, month, leap year, night and day indication, hours and minutes.
C/ RD#3: ROYAL OAK SELFWINDING FLYING TOURBILLON EXTRA-THIN (2022)
1/ Ref. 26670ST.OO.1240ST.02
This
39 mm
stainless steel model, measuring
8.1 mm in height, represents the
first “Jumbo” in history to be
equipped with a
selfwinding flying tourbillon.
It is powered by
calibre 2968 (3 hz 21600 vph), measuring just 3.4 mm thick.
Blue dial with “Petite Tapisserie” pattern, white gold hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating.
Stainless steel
bracelet with AP folding clasp.
credit: Monochrome
2/ Ref. 26660ST.OO.1356ST.02 37 x
8,1 mm
stainless steel case, glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback.
Plum dial with “Petite Tapisserie” pattern, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating.
Stainless steel bracelet with AP folding clasp.
42 x 15.6 mm case
Grande Sonnerie Supersonnerie, Minute Repeater, Perpetual Calendar, Split-Seconds Flyback Chronograph and Flying Tourbillon come together in this ultra-complicated wristwatch.
Calibre 1000 & 1000SQ (for skeletonized variants): Grande Sonnerie Supersonnerie, minute repeater, tourbillon, flyback chronograph, split-seconds chronograph, astronomical moon, moon phases, large date, hours and minutes.
1/ Ref. 26398BC.OO.D002CR.01
White gold case, black dial
2/ Ref. 26398BC.OO.D002CR.02
White gold case, beige dial
3/ Ref. 26398OR.OO.D002KB.01 Rose gold case, beige dial
credit: Audemars Piguet
4/ Ref. 26398BC.OO.D002CR.02 White gold case and open dial
5/ 26398OR.OO.D002CR.01 Rose gold case and open dial
credit: Audemars Piguet
E/ RD#5: ROYAL OAK “JUMBO” EXTRA-THIN SELFWINDING FLYING TOURBILLON CHRONOGRAPH (2025)
39 x
8,1 mm
titanium case paired with a bezel, caseback, push-pieces and crown chip in
BMG (Bulk Metallic Glass), and glareproofed sapphire crystal and caseback.
Blue "Petite Tapisserie” dial complemented by matching counters at 3 and 9 o'clock, 18-carat white gold luminescent bathtub hands and hour-markers, a silver grey-toned inner bezel.
“Audemars Piguet” signature inspired by historical documents at 12 o'clock.
The titanium integrated bracelet with BMG links is fitted with an AP folding clasp.
Calibre 8100 (3 hz 21600 vph): Flying tourbillon, flyback chronograph, hours and minutes.
