Audemars Piguet is kicking off its 50th-anniversary celebrations with the ‘Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin RD#3,’ a stainless steel watch that was initially launched with a 39mm blue dial in April 2022. Now, the newest iteration of the timepiece boasts a stunning plum dial. The watch features the same thickness of 8.1mm at the #RD3, in addition to an ultra-thin 3.4mm automatic caliber 2968 which ticks at 3 hertz.
The watch is rounded off with a clear display case back that makes the 50th-anniversary rotor design visible to the wearer. AP branding covers the clasp as well as the crown. The Audemars Piguet ‘Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin RD#3’ is available for a retail price of $165,400 USD.
Image Credit: Audemars Piguet
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Luxury Watch Customization
- The trend of luxury watch customization offers an opportunity for watchmakers to create exclusive, unique pieces that cater to the individual customers' tastes, such as a plum-colored dial.
- Ultra-thin Watch Movements
- The trend of ultra-thin watch movements, like the automatic caliber 2968 featured in the Audemars Piguet 'Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin RD#3,' presents an opportunity for watchmakers to create sleeker, more minimalist designs.
- Clear Display Case Backs
- With the growing popularity of clear display case backs, watchmakers have the opportunity to showcase their intricate movements and designs and offer customers a unique view into the inner workings of their timepieces.
Where This Applies
- Luxury Watchmaking
- Luxury watchmakers can cater to the demand for personalized, high-end watches with unique design options and materials, such as the plum dial in the Audemars Piguet 'Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin RD#3.'
- Precision Engineering
- The development of ultra-thin watch movements, like the automatic caliber 2968 featured in the Audemars Piguet 'Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin RD#3,' requires precision engineering techniques that could be applied to other industries, such as aerospace and medical technology.
- Luxury Product Design
- Clear display case backs, as seen in the Audemars Piguet 'Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin RD#3,' can be used as a design element in other luxury products, such as jewelry or high-end electronics.
