AUDEMARS PIGUET – ROYAL OAK Selfwinding Chronograph Black Ceramic 30th Anniversary

 

AUDEMARS PIGUET – ROYAL OAK Selfwinding Chronograph 43mm Black Ceramic 30th Anniversary - 2023

 AUDEMARS PIGUET CELEBRATES THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE WITH A NEW BLACK CERAMIC CHRONOGRAPH INSPIRED BY THE LIMITED EDITION “END OF DAYS” FROM 1999

Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet is pleased to announce the launch of its new Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph. This black ceramic model pays homage to the Royal Oak Offshore “End of Days” (ref. 25770SN), released in 1999 in collaboration with Arnold Schwarzenegger that started the trend for limited series with celebrities from all walks of life. 

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Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the collection, this new contemporary model has a black aesthetic with yellow details. Limited to 500 pieces, the timepiece pays tribute to the collection that has been pushing the limits for 30 years.

A DOUBLE CELEBRATION

When launched in 1993 at the Basel Fair, the Royal Oak Offshore made quite an impression with its massive proportions (42 mm in diameter and 14.04 mm thick) and bold design. It was not until a few years later, however, that its success would really take off. The Royal Oak Offshore quickly made connections with different sectors, far removed from Haute Horlogerie, such as the worlds of sport, music and entertainment. 

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The Austrian/American actor was entrusted with the first special edition of the collection that was released in 1999 for his film End of Days (ref. 25770SN). It was an immediate success, projecting the Offshore collection into the limelight and launching a tradition of special editions in collaboration with celebrities.

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Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the collection this year, Audemars Piguet is paying tribute to this key reference that marked a turning point in the destiny of the Offshore collection. This new Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph, inspired by the 1999 model, celebrates the anniversary of the Royal Oak Offshore and its ties of friendship with celebrities from the worlds of entertainment, music and sport.

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“In 1999, the collaboration with Arnold Schwarzenegger for the Royal Oak Offshore End of Days started putting the collection on the map of a wider public for the first time. For the 30th anniversary of the Offshore, paying tribute to this specific timepiece is an obvious choice.”
François-Henry Bennahmias
CEO Audemars Piguet

A BLACK CERAMIC AESTHETIC

This new Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph model is presented in an extra-large 43 mm case, which is in line with the models introduced in 2020. This edition is made entirely of black ceramic with the addition of titanium details, such as the studs, push-pieces and case back. There are also  eight steel screws that attach the octagonal bezel to the case. The choice of these materials gives the watch a light and ergonomic feel despite its generous proportions (the total weight is only 103 grammes).

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The ceramic – an extremely hard material that is not very malleable – has been meticulously finished to reveal its many nuances and to match the complex lines of the Royal Oak Offshore case, while also meeting the high-quality standards demanded by Audemars Piguet. It is partly made of zirconium oxide powder that is combined with a specific binder. Its homogeneous colour only appears once the material is fired at a temperature exceeding 1000oC. Each component is then pre-polished and pre-satin-finished. Lines, angles and bevels are painstakingly hand-finished to achieve the Manufacture’s signature alternating polished and satin surfaces.  

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As a nod to the black and yellow aesthetic of the original 1999 model, the new Offshore features a black dial decorated with the new-generation Mega Tapisserie pattern and is illuminated with touches of yellow on the tachymeter scale as well as on the hour markers and the Royal Oak hands that are crafted from white gold, covered in a black treatment and enhanced with yellow luminescence. The applied gold AP logo stands out at 12 o’clock, while black counters grace the dial at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock.

INTEGRATED CHRONOGRAPH

This new reference is powered by the Manufacture’s latest selfwinding chronograph movement,
Calibre 4401, which is fully integrated with a column wheel and flyback function. This function allows
the chronograph to be reset and restarted with a single press of the push-piece – a patented process
that allows the chronograph counter hands to instantaneously return to the vertical position. 

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The column wheel works in conjunction with the vertical clutch and when started or stopped, the seconds
hand responds immediately, without jerking. Additionally, gentle pressure is enough to activate the
push-pieces, further enhancing the ergonomics of the timepiece.

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The oscillating weight is visible through the sapphire crystal case back. Crafted in 22-carat pink gold,
it has been coloured by NAC process to give it an anthracite grey hue. The sapphire case back also
reveals the movement’s refined decorations, including Côtes de Genève, circular graining, sunray
finishing, circular satin finishing and polished bevels. Last but not least, the titanium case back is
engraved with the words “Limited Edition of 500 Pieces”.

A LONG FRIENDSHIP WITH NUMEROUS COLLABORATIONS

Over the years, the Royal Oak Offshore has built its image through numerous collaborations with with strong personalities from the worlds of sport, music or cinema. These human encounters have enriched the collection, allowing it to evolve with time.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger, a collector of pocket watches, former bodybuilder turned actor and then Governor of California visited Le Brassus in 1997. He was already under the spell of the Audemars Piguet model launched in 1993, and a few months later, during a meeting in Santa Monica with François-Henry Bennahmias who was then a young salesman, his collaboration with AP was sealed.

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The Royal Oak Offshore End of Days (ref. 25770SN) was lauched in 1999 and celebrated the release of the film of the same name. The watch had a masculine aesthetic with a steel case covered with a PVD treatment – the first in the brand’s history – and a Kevlar strap. Several pieces of this limited edition of 500 pieces were sold to benefit Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Inner City Games Foundation, which provides sports and educational programmes for disadvantaged children. 

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The success of this first collaboration marked the beginning of many other limited editions with the American-Austrian actor - which total nine to date, including six Royal Oak Offshore models – but also with other celebrities such as Jay-Z or LeBron James.

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Today, the new Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph model comes with a black calfskin strap with a textile effect and yellow stitching. Thanks to the watch’s integrated interchangeable system, the owner can change his or her strap for a yellow calfskin version with black stitching, in a few simple steps.

Seek Beyond

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TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Model:   Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph  / 43 mm

End of Days 2023 Chronograph Edition

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Reference 26420CE.OO.A005VE.01  

MOVEMENT
Selfwinding Calibre 4401
Total diameter: 32 mm (14 lignes)
Movement thickness: 6.8 mm
Number of parts 381
Number of jewels: 40
Minimum guaranteed power reserve: 70 h
Frequency of balance wheel: 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)
Functions
Flyback chronograph, hours, minutes, small seconds and date
CASE
Black ceramic case and bezel
Diameter: 43 mm  
Thickness: 14.40 mm
Glare-proofed sapphire crystal and case back
Black ceramic push-pieces and screw-locked crown
Titanium crown protectors, studs and case back
Water resistant to 100 m
DIAL
Black dial with Mega Tapisserie pattern, counters and exterior zones in black
White gold applied hour markers and Royal Oak hands coated in black nickel with yellow luminescence, black inner bezel.
BRACELET
Black calfskin strap with textile effect and yellow stitching, titanium pin buckle
Additional interchangeable strap in yellow calfskin with black stitching

🔰  Limited Edition of 500 Pieces.

🔴 Price : incl. VAT 60'000 EUR / 53 900 CHF / USD 60,300 💰
 

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Press Release - 2023
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Audemars Piguet (Marketing) SA
Route de France 16 - Case postale 16
1348 Le Brassus - Switzerland

E-mail: laura.marino@audemarspiguet.com
Phone : + 41 21 642 39 00
Fax : + 41 21 642 34 02
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www.AudemarsPiguet.com

PIAGET – ALTIPLANO Ultimate Concept Edition La Cote-Aux-Fees

PIAGET – ALTIPLANO Ultimate CONCEPT Edition “La Côte-aux-Fées” Cobalt 41mm 2023

 A ONE-OF-A-KIND TRIBUTE TO
THE ALTIPLANO ULTIMATE CONCEPT La Cote-Aux-Fees

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Not fully green, not blue…. This new expression of the now iconic Altiplano Ultimate Concept is one-of-a-kind. Playing on subtle cobalt-alloy variations on the mainplate and dial, Piaget brings a new unexpected texture and depth to this innovative design. 

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Still ultra-thin and a landmark in its category without ever making compromises on the comfort and the watchmaking standards like the water resistance in an open-work watch. And just like the Piaget Polo Perpetual Calendar in steel or pink gold, green is this season Piaget’s new shade of bold.

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The lineage of the Altiplano Ultimate Concept is being celebrated in a special version dedicated to the Swiss Jura village of La Côte-aux-Fées. The Altiplano Ultimate Concept Watch has a bridge, screws, hands and a dial in a deep, forest green and complemented by a matching strap in alligator leather. 

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The highly polished, cobalt alloy case contrasts beautifully with the richness of the green detailing, evoking the feeling of a typical spring or summer's day in the hills and fields around the village that has been Piaget's home for almost 150 years. As a reminder of that, the main plate is subtly engraved with the year of the company's founding, 1874. 

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The Altiplano Ultimate Concept watch houses our 900P-UC movement, one of the world thinnest mechanical watch that we have produced entirely in-house. This re-energized version of our iconic 9P movement, is based on our concept of fusing the case and the movement. 

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The Altiplano Ultimate Concept mechanical watch has won the prestigious "Aiguille d'Or" at the 2020 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG). This prize, awarded to the best overall watch in terms of creativity and quest for excellence, comes as a celebration of our maison's savoir-faire and expertize.

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The latest Altiplano Ultimate Concept is embellished with tones of forest green applied to the hour and minutes dial and hands, as well as the bridge and screws on the dial. The green areas are satin-brushed and coated with an atomic layer deposition (ALD) for additional protection. 

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The 41mm case is a cobalt alloy and beautifully polished throughout to contrast with the rich green details and the bright pink colour of the rubies. The grainy white mainplate framing the movement is engraved with Piaget and 1874 in reference to the year Piaget was founded. Echoing the green details on the dial, the alligator leather strap is also forest green. 

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The movement connected to the Altiplano Ultimate Concept watch is the Piaget caliber 900P-UC. It operates at 4Hz (28,800 bph) with a power reserve of about 42 hours. The mainspring barrel is carefully mounted on one single ceramic ball bearing. 

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Time is indicated off-center via its own dial at the 12 o’clock position. The entire movement is meant to minimize the thinness of parts and maximize space. Assembling these watches requires incredible skill because of how unforgiving the tolerances are.

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The challenge at this thin size is structural integrity. Too thin and brittle, and the watch case parts will snap or bend. The sapphire crystal, for example, is just 0.2mm-thick. There really isn’t a separation of case and movement, as the case is the mainplate for the movement, a design detail that allows for the watch to be considerably thinner than most other wristwatches.

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The case back, bezel and lugs have all been satin brushed making a nice contrast to the case band that is polished. The timepiece is paired with an extremely thin green alligator strap that does not exceed 1.5mm, in keeping with the watch’s ultra-thin design. 

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ABOUT PIAGET Piaget epitomizes daring creativity – a quality that has continued to permeate through the Maison since its beginnings in 1874. From his first workshop in La Côte-aux-Fées, Georges-Edouard Piaget devoted himself to crafting high-precision movements in a feat that formed the very foundations of our pioneering name. In the late 1950s, Piaget unveiled the ultra-thin movements that would later become the Maison’s trademark and the cornerstone of the Alti-plano collection. As a true innovator of the watch and jewellery world, Piaget strongly believed in creativity and artistic values. It is within the walls of our “Ateliers de l’Extraordinaire” where master artisans continue to harness rare skills that have been preserved and perfected from generation to generation, transforming gold, stones and precious gems into dazzling works of art. Through its pursuit of masterful craftsmanship, the Maison has created emblems of daring excellence channeled into its collections including Piaget Altiplano, Piaget Polo, Limelight Gala, Possession, Sunlight, Piaget Rose and Extremely Piaget.

#Piaget #PiagetAltiplanoUltimate #AltiplanoUltimate 

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Collection: ALTIPLANO 

Model: ALTIPLANO Ultimate CONCEPT Edition “La Côte-aux-Fées”

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 Ref.  G0A46503

Movement
Type: Self-winding mechanical ultra-thin skeleton manufacture movement
Calibre 900P-UC skeletonised version movement, in-house 
Power reserve (in hours): Approx. 40
Frequency : 28,800 vibrations/h (4Hz)
Number of jewels: 13 jewels 
Number of components: 167 parts (whole watch) 
Super-LumiNova on the main plate representing the sky above the manufacture at the date and time when the first AUC started beating
Functions:  Hours, Minutes offset at 12 o'clock
Finishing:
Beveled bridges, Circular satin-brushed back, Sunburst satin-brushed bridges, Circular or sunburst-brushed wheels, Grey colored screws
Piaget historical logo on the hour disc, with 2 circles at 7 and 4 and small plat at 2:30.
“La Cote-aux-Fees” and the Manufacture's coordinate engraved onto the ratchet wheel.
Case
Case and movement merged as one 
Polished cobalt-based alloy 
Dark slate green PVD finish - 0.2mm thick crystal 
Flat crown recessed into the case band
Crystal: Sapphire with double-sided antireflective coating
Back: Screwed with sapphire crystal
Diameter: 41 mm
Thickness: 2 mm
Waterproofness: 30 ATM
Metal weight:  14.2 g  
Dial
Sskeletonised
Bracelet
Strap: Delivered with an green alligator leather strap
Buckle:  Ardillon buckle

• Development time: 6 years
• Five patents pending

PRICE:   available CHF 408,000 /$ 425,000 / € 410,000  💰

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Press release - 2023
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Contact
Bucherer AG
Martina Brönnimann
Ameia Communication GmbH
Alte Dorfstrasse 42
8704 Herrliberg
Tel.: +41 44 915 05 43
Mobile: +41 78 601 47 47
E-mail: mbroennimann@ameia.ch
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www.Piaget.com