On The Wrist: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin

Founded in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland more than 140 years ago, Audemars Piguet has been shaking-up the world of Haute Horlogerie for almost equally as long. In 1986 AP began offering the world’s thinnest tourbillon, with a case of just 5.5mm thick. Since then, they have continued making strides in the world of Haute Horlogerie, constantly combining exceptional feats of engineering with cunning aesthetic design. Almost 30 years later, AP released the Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin–an exemplary specimen of AP’s ingenuity and innovation.

The Tourbillon Extra-thin was originally released in 2012 at SIHH in rose gold and stainless steel and was released in 2016 for the first time in platinum. Audemars Piguet CEO Francois Bennahmias was wearing the stainless steel version of the watch at Art Basel in  2012 with a sporty jacket.

Staying true to Audemars Piguet design, the watch combines the history of the Royal Oak and the robustness of a sports watch. The watch combines a perfect balance between being discrete and a complicated design.

Details of the Platinum Tourbillon

Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin has a perfectly sized 41mm case, that would fit nicely on anyone. Although in platinum, it’s still surprisingly light. This piece is classic, elegant, and easily matched with clothing. The tourbillon is a nice addition to an already perfect piece. The watch has a 50meter/165ft depth rating.

The caliber is 31.5mm wide, with a 70 hour power reserve, and 216 parts. The caliber is clearly visible through the sapphire crystal case-back, providing a window to peer into the delicate, inner-workings of the watch. Ours features a smoked grey dial, with the classic “Petite Tapisserie” pattern, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating–providing a classic look for uniquely made timepiece.

The Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin has a 950 platinum bracelet with the signature AP folding clasp.

The watch sits nicely on the wrist and is overall, very comfortable. The classic and clean design is easily paired with other items and would make a great addition to watch collector’s repertoire.

Author: Max Rosenblum