Audemars Piguet unveils new Royal Oak watches for women
The eight new Royal Oak models from Audemars Piguet are in a spectrum of hues
Audemars Piguet has released eight new women’s Royal Oak models in a range of colours and materials.
The new editions rework the iconic design codes of the original model which was first released in 1972, a luxury steel watch before the concept existed. Gerald Genta put a sporty luxury at the heart of his design, his geometric silhouette and integrated bracelet creating a fluid and enduring piece. Now, this new collection trips down the colour spectrum, beginning on the dark side with the Royal Oak Selfwinding in black ceramic. By juxtaposing materials and colours – slick ceramic against the textured tapestry of the guilloché dial, and inky black against rose gold accents – it brings a contemporary reinterpretation to the use of ceramic, first debuted in the Royal Oak in the 1980s.
The Royal Oak Selfwinding in Frosted Gold also builds on the collection launched last year, referencing the jewellery technique developed with jewellery designer Carolina Bucci which first appeared in 2016. This new edition in white gold is complete with a subtle shimmer, a consequence of the traditional Florentine jewellery technique which makes tiny impressions in the surface of the gold using a diamond-tipped tool. The resulting glittering effect is a vivid foil for the cool blue of the tapestry dial.
The colours grow more vivid in the Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph crafted in solid 18-carat pink gold, with baguette-cut amethysts framing a matching dial. The colour of the dial flits from purple to pink to blue with the changing of the light, a result of the layers of shimmering purple PVD.
Finally, five new rainbow versions complete the bold line-up. The bezel, set with multi-coloured gemstones, frames an openworked dial which is set in either white, pink or yellow Frosted Gold for a colourful finale.
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Hannah Silver is the Art, Culture, Watches & Jewellery Editor of Wallpaper*. Since joining in 2019, she has overseen offbeat art trends and conducted in-depth profiles, as well as writing and commissioning extensively across the worlds of culture and luxury. She enjoys travelling, visiting artists' studios and viewing exhibitions around the world, and has interviewed artists and designers including Maggi Hambling, William Kentridge, Jonathan Anderson, Chantal Joffe, Lubaina Himid, Tilda Swinton and Mickalene Thomas.
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