Audemars Piguet can look back on a long history of high horology and sophisticated complications, and for its latest feat in this arena the manufacture has installed a flying tourbillon, for the first time, into its flagship Royal Oak Selfwinding collection. The new Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon, comprising three distinctive models, incorporates the recently developed Caliber 2950, which made its high-profile debut last year in the Code 11.59 collection.

Ref. 26530OR.OO.1220OR.01

The three models all measure 41 mm in diameter and are immediately recognizable by their iconic octagonal bezel with visible screws and integrated link bracelet. Two of the trio feature the hallmark “Tapisserie” pattern on their dials: one is in a steel case with a smoked blue sunburst dial color and white gold hands and hour markers; the other, in 18k rose gold, features a smoked gray sunburst dial color,with hands and markers also in rose gold. The third, in a titanium case, stands apart with its use of a sandblasted slate gray dial with a peripheral snailed pattern instead of the more traditional “Tapisserie.” All three give pride of place to the large flying tourbillon aperture at 6 o’clock.
Ref. 26530OTI.OO.1220TI.01

The other notable addition to the dials is the 3D applied Audemars Piguet logo just below 12 o’clock, which for the first time in the expansive, venerable Royal Oak collection is made of thin layers of gold in a chemical pr...