
Audemars Piguet Unveils World’s Thinnest Automatic Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch
Pushing the boundaries of ultra-thin references
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At an astonishingly thin 2.89mm, and a case height of only 6.3mm, the new Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin wristwatch from Audemars Piguet (AP) becomes the world’s thinnest of its kind.
This is not the first slim milestone for the Vallée de Joux watchmaker – back in 1921, AP released the thinnest pocket watch ever crafted, with a movement of only 1.32mm.
The current technical innovations integrate design, ergonomics and movement development to engineer a movement that can be housed in a case thin enough to slide under the sleeve of a shirt.
To achieve this objective, AP has combined the perpetual calendar functions, normally arranged on three levels, into one single layer. The end-of-the month cam has been integrated to the date wheel, while the month cam has been combined to the month wheel. The geometry of each component has also been optimised to reduce adjustment and assembly time.
AP connoisseurs will note that compared to previous Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar models, some tweaks to the dial have been made, with day, date and month subdials enlarged for optimum legibility, while the night and day indication at 8 o’clock has been added symmetrically to the leap year indication positioned at 4 o’clock.
The Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin combines titanium and 950 platinum for an elegant look and a significantly lighter feel on the wrist. The alternation of polished and satin brushed surfaces adorning the case, bracelet and bezel elevates the contrast between the two materials – a neat metaphor for the interplay between refined aesthetics and clear-eyed practicality for a contemporary lifestyle.
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