Audemars Piguet Drops A New Royal Oak Concept Limited Edition In Collaboration With Couture Designer Tamara Ralph

Audemars Piguet has just dropped another fashion-forward partnership. On the heels of its rather successful collaboration with 1017 ALYX 9SM in August of last year, Audemars has added another designer to its repertoire, Haute Couture designer Tamara Ralph. Together, they have introduced the new Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon limited edition in Paris for the Spring/Summer 2024 Haute Couture Fashion Week. capturing the essence of Ralph’s bold femininity and creativity through a palette of graded hues ranging from brown and bronze to golden tones.

A brief history: the partnership between Audemars Piguet and Ralph actually began in 2020 when several Audemars Piguet watches were paired with her Spring/Summer 2021 Pret-a-Porter collection. Building on this successful collaboration, the two entities joined forces again in 2024 to design this Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon limited edition. “My intention for the design of this piece is for it to capture the spirit and craftsmanship of both my brand as well as Audemars Piguet,” reveals Ralph. “The complications of watchmaking orchestrate a foundation which can be played with in terms of textures, colors, and designs, allowing for the savoir-faire of couture to shine through. Rich materials, unique color palettes, and ultimate precision are combined, creating an exquisite limited edition of the Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon, inspired by Haute Couture.”

Ilaria Resta, the new Chief Executive Officer of Audemars Piguet added, “Ralph’s endless quest for perfection perfectly echoes our watchmakers’ dedication to pushing their craft to the limit. We are delighted to start 2024 in collaboration with such an inspiring woman, and it is only the beginning!” And as outsiders looking in, we’re feeling a major feminine shift already happening at Audemars.

The Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon Tamara Ralph Limited Edition boasts an 18-karat pink gold case adorned with Frosted Gold, a technique revisited by jewelry designer Carolina Bucci and adapted by Audemars Piguet artisans in 2016. This meticulous craftsmanship involves creating tiny indentations on the gold surface with a diamond-tipped tool, resulting in a dazzling effect reminiscent of precious stones. The octagonal bezel is highlighted by a polished bevel, while the case’s satin-brushed flanks provide a striking contrast. The combination of these finishing techniques gives the case an interesting dimension and a play of light.

The caseback features a sapphire crystal held in place by an 18-karat pink gold octagonal frame, finished with satin brushing, polished chamfers, and engraved with “Royal Oak Concept Limited Edition.” Completing the design, the hexagonal crown, resembling the stainless steel screws on the bezel, features satin-brushed and polished finishing, with a translucent cabochon-cut sapphire for an extra touch of femininity.

Perhaps the focal point of the timepiece is the multi-layered dial of the Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon “Tamara Ralph” Limited Edition, which draws its inspiration from Ralph’s couture creations, showcasing four overlapping circular pink gold plates that create a mesmerizing ripple effect emanating from the flying tourbillon cage at 6 o’clock. Each layer presents a different color, transitioning from brown in the center to bronze in the middle and culminating in golden tones at the dial’s extremity. The brown and golden hues are achieved through galvanic treatment, while the bronze layer is coated with bronze lacquer. The dial is further enhanced with a continuous sunburst satin-finishing that radiates from the hands outwards, seamlessly aligning from one plate to another. The intricate detailing continues with each plate adorned with a thin diamond-polished gold thread, adding depth and richness to the dial.

The flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock, merging technical mastery with sophisticated aesthetics, features an upper frame with three rings radiating from a decentred disc paved with 19 brilliant-cut diamonds (~0.04 carats). The pink-gold-toned hue of the cage echoes the 18-carat pink gold hour and minute hands, both equipped with luminescent coating for readability in low light. At 12 o’clock, the applied pink gold AP monogram adds the final touch. The absence of hour markers accentuates the dial’s purity and harmony.

To complement this exquisite timepiece, it comes with a bronze-toned hand-stitched “large square scale” alligator strap, accompanied by an additional brown alligator strap reminiscent of the center of the dial, offering a refined look. Both straps feature a pearly finishing, adding subtle elegance and glamour to the watch.

Fashion and watchmaking, two industries that often collide, were meant to live and flourish together as both are works of art individually; yet, when they come together — as seen in the Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon Tamara Ralph Limited Edition — they create a masterpiece.