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Hype? The new Y/V Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon
Audemars Piguet recently released a new version of the Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon: Ref. 26643TI.OO.D002CA.01.
credit: Hodinkee
It was designed in collaboration with Yoon Ahn (right) & Verbal (right):
credit: @ezylifedxb
The vivid red aluminium flying tourbillon stands out against the openworked black aventurine dial which is complemented by blackened 18-carat white gold hands filled with grey luminescent material and a black inner bezel.
The watch features an interchangeable black rubber strap with “micro-mosaic” pattern and quilted inner imprint, fitted with a titanium AP folding clasp.
They feature an openwork dial made of brushed aluminium (?) instead of black aventurine.
The movement has a silver finish instead of the black coating of the Limited Edition.
Below is a double wrist shot of Verbal showing his new piece unique alongside the Concept Watch 1 (CW1), with its case made of alacrite 602 (a cobalt-based alloy), a watch of which he was a long time owner.
credit: @yoon_ambush & @verbal_ambush
And here's Verbal proudly showing his new piece unique.
credit: highsnobiety
Some drawings and samples of the rubber strap with “micro-mosaic” pattern during the creation process.
credit: @yoon_ambush & @verbal_ambush
The new Limited Edition on the wrist of new owners...
credit: @tamara
credit: highsnobiety
... and on the wrist of Ilaria Resta, CEO of Audemars Piguet!
credit: highsnobiety
The red presentation box.
credit: @yoon_ambush
A new owner known as @ceramicwatch unboxing his watch.
credit: @creamicwatch
And, to conclude this post, some of the promotional artistic images.
credit: Audemars Piguet
credit: Hodinkee
It was designed in collaboration with Yoon Ahn (right) & Verbal (right):
- Yoon Ahn is an American fashion designer and businesswoman, best known as the co‑founder and creative director of AMBUSH and as the former jewelry design director for Dior Men (2018–2022). She studied graphic design at Boston University, later moved to Tokyo, and rose to prominence through bold, pop‑art‑influenced jewelry and collaborations with major figures like Kanye West, Virgil Abloh, and Kim Jones.
- Verbal (Ryu Yeong‑gi) is a Japanese-Korean hip‑hop artist, producer, and fashion figure, known for his work with the group m‑flo and for co‑founding AMBUSH with Yoon Ahn. He studied philosophy and marketing at Boston University, debuted in the music industry in 1998, and became a key bridge between hip‑hop culture and high fashion.
credit: highsnobiety
The titanium case measures 38.5 x 11.4 mm and, according to Audemars Piguet, the watch was designed by prioritizing “purpose over excess, essence over noise, and [with] a deliberate emphasis on focus and intent.”
credit: @ezylifedxb
The vivid red aluminium flying tourbillon stands out against the openworked black aventurine dial which is complemented by blackened 18-carat white gold hands filled with grey luminescent material and a black inner bezel.
The watch features an interchangeable black rubber strap with “micro-mosaic” pattern and quilted inner imprint, fitted with a titanium AP folding clasp.
It comes with an additional red rubber strap with “micro-mosaic” pattern and a matching grey variation is available on demand.
credit: Hodinkee
credit: Audemars Piguet
In addition to the Limited Edition model, of which 150 pieces will be made, two unique pieces were created respectively for Yoon and Verbal.
Developed specifically for this collaborative limited edition, Calibre 2982 builds on the technical advancements of Calibre 2964 – the Manufacture’s hand-wound flying tourbillon movement that brings together tradition and modernity.
credit: Hodinkee
Crafted to showcase the regulating organ in full view, the new variation conserves its predecessor’s high-tech architecture.
Its aluminium tourbillon cage, framed by red bridges, adds a bold visual signature while enhancing precision.
credit: Audemars Piguet
In addition to the Limited Edition model, of which 150 pieces will be made, two unique pieces were created respectively for Yoon and Verbal.
They feature an openwork dial made of brushed aluminium (?) instead of black aventurine.
The movement has a silver finish instead of the black coating of the Limited Edition.
Below is a double wrist shot of Verbal showing his new piece unique alongside the Concept Watch 1 (CW1), with its case made of alacrite 602 (a cobalt-based alloy), a watch of which he was a long time owner.
credit: @yoon_ambush & @verbal_ambush
And here's Verbal proudly showing his new piece unique.
credit: highsnobiety
Some drawings and samples of the rubber strap with “micro-mosaic” pattern during the creation process.
credit: @yoon_ambush & @verbal_ambush
The new Limited Edition on the wrist of new owners...
credit: @tamara
credit: highsnobiety
... and on the wrist of Ilaria Resta, CEO of Audemars Piguet!
credit: highsnobiety
The red presentation box.
credit: @yoon_ambush
A new owner known as @ceramicwatch unboxing his watch.
credit: @creamicwatch
And, to conclude this post, some of the promotional artistic images.
credit: Audemars Piguet
So, what do you think about this new Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon?
Do you consider it a pure hype product, or do you find it interesting?
Personally, the Royal Oak Concept has never been my favorite Audemars Piguet line, and I don't find this new limited edition particularly compelling.
But it's not bad either, and it seems consistent with what I believe to be Audemars Piguet's objective: to be simultaneously a high-end watchmaking brand, a fashion brand (through collaboration with figures in the fashion world), and a popular brand (the recent collaboration with Swatch).
Thanks for reading.
Best, Emmanuel
I love it LoL - the RO Concepts have always been my favorite APs, and this one is no different. To me....
They are easily the most imaginatively original pieces that they make, and well worth the attention (and hype) they seem to receive fairly frequently.... Thanks a bunch for such an extensive pictorial report, I would not have otherwise seen it in such great detail. Cheers, Filip
I completely understand the appeal.
And I’m sure the aventurine dial looks even better in person!
Cheers, Emmanuel
Cheers, Emmanuel
Looks really good on the first picture.
But the watch looks really big on many of the wrist shots, even though it is only 38.5 mm big, perhaps due to the way the strap is attached to the case.
I don't really follow these Concept Watches but the very first one (CW 1) is quite interesting.
I don't really follow these Concept Watches but the very first one (CW 1) is quite interesting.
The line is very interesting indeed.
But the design is too far away from my personal taste, so I've never been seriously/personally interested in acquiring one of the references.
Best, Emmanuel
Best, Emmanuel
Nice to see the concept in a "normal" setting...
I know the Concept is intended to be the most avant garde of the lineup - so seeing this more elegant implementation is a nice diversion. Hope there will be more next year when the Concept celebrates its next anniversary.
Cheers
Peter
Cheers
Peter