The New 34 mm Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Watch Is Symphony in White Ceramic

Even as luxury watchmakers experiment with bold colours for their creations, timepieces with monochromatic aesthetics still seem to hold sway in the world of horology. As far as new materials for watches are concerned, ceramic has firmly established its credentials. To underscore the beauty of the material, Audemars Piguet has ensured a full ceramic look for its new Royal Oak Selfwinding (Ref. 77350CB.OO.1266CB.01) timepiece, which is much smaller in size, compared with its predecessors. Exclusively available at Audemars Piguet boutiques, the new timepiece follows the four 37 mm Royal Oak Offshore chronographs, launched this year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Offshore lineup.

The newly launched watch has all the elements that make for an impactful style statement — it is unisex, monochromatic, and made of a durable material. Nevertheless, incorporating ceramic instead of steel in timepieces comes with its own pros and cons. Ceramic is much harder and more scratch-proof, compared with steel. It is also lighter on your wrist but can break easily. 

The 34 mm Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding watch gets a white ceramic case, a bezel with eight hexagonal 18 ct pink gold screws, and integrated lugs and bracelet. This model features impressive monochrome aesthetics, accentuated by pink gold details. The silver dial comes with a signature Grand Tapisserie motif, drawing inspiration from the Royal Oak's 50th anniversary editions. It has 18 ct pink gold hour markers, hour, minute, and second hands with luminescent coating. The crown at 3 o’clock also sports a white ceramic look with pink gold detailing. The date window at 3 o’clock has a white background and black numerals. 

Powering the watch is the in-house selfwinding Calibre 5800, delivering a 50-hour power reserve. Turning the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding watch over showcases the sapphire caseback with an 22 ct pink gold oscillating weight with eight visible screws. In keeping with tradition, the movement features high-end decorations, such as Côtes de Genève, circular graining, and satin and sunray finishes. The ceramic bracelet features invisible pins that are directly integrated into the studs to connect them to the links. What’s more, the steel folding clasp is enriched with a shade of black, achieved through a DLC (diamond-like carbon) treatment.