Audemars Piguet has already released some showstopping timepieces this year, with another one of the latest unveilings for 2023 being the new version of the Royal Oak Jumbo Extra Thin (ref 16202). This latest edition features a beautiful blue-grained dial whilst retaining the core design of what made the Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin so appealing.
This is not the first time a grained dial has been used on the Royal Oak collection. The blue-grained dial for this new Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin was inspired by the platinum reference 14802 that was created in 1992 for the 20th anniversary of the Royal Oak collection. The grained dial was also used as a way to complement the collection’s historical motifs.
For this latest timepiece, Audemars Piguet has reworked the grain dial design so that the texture of the dial offers a finer and brighter grain, which makes it appear differently under the light. The blue tone is obtained through PVD, which is then covered with a translucent coating that enhances the brilliance of the dial. The final effect of this blue-grained dial is that it resembles the clear night sky above Le Brassus.
The Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin features a 39mm 18-carat white gold case with glare-proofed sapphire crystal and a matching white gold bracelet. It is rated to a water resistance of 50m and a case thickness of just 8.1mm! To match the case and offer a stunning contrast against the blue-grained dial, the hour indices and Royal Oak hands are made from white gold while also containing luminescence for low-light visibility.
The date window, showing a 3 o’clock position, has the background done in midnight blue so that it blends in with the dial smoothly. As with all Royal Oak models, this latest Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin features the brand’s signature alternating finishes that include polished bevels, which complement the satin finishing done on the bezel and folding clasp.
The main reason why this Royal Oak model is able to be so thin is thanks to the ultra-refined movement. This latest model has now been given the Calibre 7121 movement, which was first introduced back in January 2022 for Royal Oaks’ 50th-anniversary celebration. The Calibre 7121 movement is a culmination of five years of research and development. The movement is able to indicate the hours, minutes, seconds, and also the date whilst delivering a decent power reserve of 55 hours at an operating frequency of 4Hz (28,800 VpH). The power reserve has been increased from the previous version of this movement due to the larger barrel being used now. The date function on this Calibre 7121 movement uses a flat energy-saving mechanism and a rapid correction system which has been patented by the brand.
All of these features fit into a movement that’s only 3.9mm thick, which is why the total case size is extra thin at only 8.1mm. The timepiece comes with an open case back that allows the viewer to see the hand-crafted decorations of the movement, such as the Côtes de Genève, circular satin-finishing, snailing, circular graining and polished angles. The stand-out feature of the case back is, of course, the 18-carat pink gold oscillating weight.
The latest evolution of the Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin brings together the iconic design cues of previous models with now a stunning dial and updated movement. The timepiece is available for purchase exclusively through Audemars Piguet boutiques.
Reference: 16202BC.OO. 1240BC.02
Specification:
- Case: 39mm
- Case Material: White Gold
- Dial: Blue-grained dial, white gold hour markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescence.
- Crystal: Glareproofed sapphire crystal
- Water resistance: 50 metres with screw-down crown
- Movement: Self-winding Calibre 7121
- Power reserve: 55 Hours
- Bracelet: 18-carat white gold bracelet with AP folding clasp
