Audemars Piguet

It is a VERY cool watch.

as cool as this

design

& as delicious as that

dial

But the carbon steel... somehow it looks mushy at the edges, for example the vents on the bezel and joint to the pushers. Is it because of lighting on the marble or!?

cheers,
Ed~
This message has been edited by lien on 2010-01-25 05:38:26

Anthony suggested "Voltron!"

re: the "mushiness" - I believe it's a combination of both the lighting, the material "surface" look itself, and the fact that these are prototypes/pre-production. (this last is often why brands DON'T like pictures to be taken of SIHH pieces. But oh, well, it's a double edged sword.)

Are you referring to the "sharp edges" and transitions, or...?

Keep in mind that, as far as I know, "machining" forged carbon (and carbon fiber in general) is still problematic, due to the nature of the material and how it "works."

On the other hand, drilling and cutting seems to be no problem (eg using carbon nanoplates for base plates on RP high end pieces for AP and RM.)  Also note that carbon fiber and "forged carbon" are different, though related.

This will be interesting to watch, as the material and its handling and processing develops...

Cheers,

TM

Thx for the information on the carbon steel, it is very interesting knowing its property as easy to open holes but not machining; reminding me of HW's Zalium which i remembered to be flamable and found exciting imagining it be utilized in extreme cases where one need to start fire lol

overall i like styling details of this piece very much as much decorative but not over killed.

I honestly think an all carbon steel piece with mono color scheme on the dial be very sexy! i luve that particular gold colour on outer dial rim,

imagine that particular gold on the black marble...yummy...

best,
Ed~
 

The black "marbled" material is carbon forge (accent over the e, or "forged carbon" if translated to English) - a process described in the section below on the case material. I believe there is also past feature posts on the process and equipment used to make forged carbon.

There is no "steel" in forged carbon.

There is also a "high carbon steel" which is used in machine tools, and a prototype which you have heard about ( ) but that is not the material used here.

Am I misunderstanding something?

Just wanted to make sure we starting new internet myths here...

Cheers,

TM

Carbon forge i meant for the black marble :p

i think i have seem both on different occasions and each has its charm, so long as they r no mushiness with the production pieces i ll be happy with either the black marble or the black silk

thanks for the clarification,
Ed~

Look at the exhaust tail.

Hi Pau,

I had thought about the Reventon, but I couldn't find any pictures in my photo galleries that featured the rear radiator vents as well as those picture you found. And of course, that is exactly what the designers had in mind - extractors, not intake vents.

Thanks!

Cheers,

TM

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix Collection

References

26290IO.OO.A001VE.01

Forged carbon case, forged carbon and black ceramic bezel, blackened titanium crown, black ceramic and titanium pushpieces, titanium pushpiece guards, titanium exhibition case-back fitted with a sapphire crystal– Limited edition of 1750

estimated retail price: $34,500 USD

(all estimated suggested retail prices subject to change without notice)

 

26290RO.OO.A001VE.01

18-carat pink gold case, forged carbon and black ceramic bezel, pink gold crown, black ceramic and pink gold pushpieces, carbon pushpiece guards, pink gold exhibition case-back fitted with a sapphire crystal– Limited edition of 650

estimated retail price: $56,300 USD

 

26290PO.OO.A001VE.01

18-carat 950 platinum, forged carbon and black ceramic bezel, white gold crown, black ceramic and white gold pushpieces, carbon pushpiece guards, platinum exhibition case-back fitted with a sapphire crystal – Limited edition of 75

estimated retail price: $94,300 USD

 

Movement

Calibre: 3126/3840 selfwinding

Total diameter: 29.94 mm (13^1/4 lignes)

Casing diameter: 26 mm

Thickness: 7.16 mm

59 jewels

365 parts

Up to 60-hour power reserve

Cadence of the balance: 21,600 vibrations per hour

Variable-inertia balance with eight inertia-blocks and flat balance-spring

Geneva-type mobile balance-spring stud-holder

Three-position winding crown

Finishing: all parts meticulously decorated; mainplate circular-grained; bridges rhodium-plated, chamfered, snailed and adorned with a Côtes de Genève motif. Diamond-polished jewel sinks; wheels featuring chamfered arms and diamond-polished sinks, chamfered screw slots

22-carat gold oscillating weight partially blackened and decorated with two scoops

 

Cases

Diameter: 44 mm

Thickness: 15.65 mm

Case-back engraved with the inscription Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix – Limited Edition

Water resistance: 100 m

 

Dials

Black with central red negative-printed exclusive “Méga Tapisserie” motif in eloxed aluminium, anthracite small seconds counter (at 12 o’clock), silvered and yellow 30-minute counter (at 9 o‘clock), silvered and black 12-hour counter (at 6 o’clock), yellow eloxed aluminium flange

 

Anthracite with central black negative-printed exclusive “Méga Tapisserie” motif in eloxed aluminium, anthracite small seconds counter (at 12 o’clock), silvered and yellow 30-minute counter (at 9 o‘clock), silvered and black 12-hour counter (at 6 o’clock), black eloxed aluminium flange

 

Black with central blue negative-printed exclusive “Méga Tapisserie” motif in eloxed aluminium, anthracite small seconds counter (at 12 o’clock), black and red 30-minute counter (at 9 o‘clock), silvered and black 12-hour counter (at 6 o’clock), silvered aluminium flange

 

White gold hour-markers with luminescent coating

 

Openworked and luminescent hour and minute hands in white or pink gold

 

Straps

Black calfskin and alcantara, hand-sewn with alcantara inserts and edges, pin buckle in beadblasted titanium, or 18-carat pink gold or 950 platinum.

 

Functions

Hours and minutes

Small seconds

Chronograph with central seconds hand, 30-minute and 12-hour counters

Date

 

 

Thank you for the comprehensive report on the new Grand Prix Royal Oak series. The comparison photographs to motorsports attributes really show the inspiration behind this piece. Thank you for pointing out all of these fine details and for explaining their origins in the motorsports industry.

My favorite details are; the scoops on the winding rotor and the vents on the side of the bezel.

I'm pleased to report that I don't have the "Princess and the Pea" touch this time; meaning that my favorite model out of the current Grand Prix line-up is actually not the most expensive version but the titanium version. I feel that this piece - although somewhat less exclusive - truly reflects the essence of the series and pays the most homage to its motorsports inspiration. The derivatives in rose gold and platinum are equally stunning and much more exclusive, but I like the aesthetics of the titanium model with its red accents since it reminds me of red cars.

A very original design from Audemars Piguet. Many car-influenced designs have been found in wristwatches recently, but (to my knowledge) no timepiece has had so many design cues installed in a single piece.

.

A very nice way to show the details where it comes from, and my favorite red watchwinder on the way to Monica house.............  ;-)

Best,

Michel

Hey, give Monica my best, the next time you see her!

Greetz,

"Morgan"

O.K. Thomas, I think I have all the answers to the contest now...

But at least I can't be accused of leaving my readers hanging ...

(at least, not forever...

)

Cheers, and yes, there will be another opportunity, I'm sure.

;-)

TM

Not one of AP:s best efforts but probably a good watch for ferrari owners who want to match the colours of the interior with their new watch!