Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider-Man”
Audemars Piguet is delighted unveils the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider-Man” as the second part of its collaboration with Marvel that began in 2021. Share
Combining ancestral expertise with futuristic technology, this 42 mm titanium and black ceramic timepiece is a feat of openwork and highlights the Manufacture’s boundless creativity in complications. This model also embodies Audemars Piguet’s desire to forge links with different cultural universes, seeking inspiration beyond the world of Haute Horlogerie and drawing from the world of pop culture. Limited to 250 pieces, the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider-Man” is accompanied by a unique piece, which will be auctioned off to benefit the First Book and Ashoka associations, non-profit organisations that work to empower young people to create change and a positive impact.
Following the Royal Oak Concept “Black Panther” Flying Tourbillon, which launched in 2021, this second collaboration with Marvel features Spider-Man, one of Marvel’s most popular Super Heroes. Marvel’s Spider-Man unites a large community of fans around the world, while promoting family and community values. The Super Hero quickly became a pop culture phenomenon after appearing in comics, video games, on consumer products and more. After more than sixty years since his debut, Audemars Piguet and Marvel are pleased to pay tribute to this amazing icon.
Spider-Man immediately captivated audiences. An ordinary young man, Peter Parker suddenly finds himself with extraordinary powers after having been bitten by a radioactive spider. With his newfound superpowers, Peter embodies the adage, “With great power there must also come great responsibility.” Similarly, Audemars Piguet’s commitment to the First Book and Ashoka organizations also stems from this motto. This philanthropic endeavour began in 2021, with the launch of the Royal Oak Concept “Black Panther” Flying Tourbillon.
Spider-Man immediately captivated audiences. An ordinary young man, Peter Parker suddenly finds himself with extraordinary powers after having been bitten by a radioactive spider. With his newfound superpowers, Peter embodies the adage, “With great power there must also come great responsibility.” Similarly, Audemars Piguet’s commitment to the First Book and Ashoka organizations also stems from this motto. This philanthropic endeavour began in 2021, with the launch of the Royal Oak Concept “Black Panther” Flying Tourbillon.
Presented in a 42 mm titanium case contrasted with a black ceramic bezel and crown, the openworked movement of the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider-Man” appears as the hero of this timepiece. Based on the Calibre 2948, the new hand-wound Calibre 2974 required all the openworking expertise of Audemars Piguet’s engineers, watchmakers and craftspeople for this timepiece to see the light of day. The silhouette and volume of the character are first cut from a block of white gold using a CNC machine.
The Super Hero’s suit is then laser-engraved to obtain the differences in texture that give it its textile appearance. This operation requires complex machine programming and many tests to obtain the desired result. After this step, touch-ups and engraving-related finishings are meticulously done by hand by a single artisan, making each piece unique. The character is ultimately hand-painted to give him his recognizable two-tone aesthetic, contrasting mat red and metallic blue. Extending across the entire thickness of the watch, the Super Hero alone requires no less than 50 hours of work, pushing the limits of the craftsmanship of the artisans in Le Brassus.
Limited to 250 pieces, this model is accompanied by a unique piece called the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Black Suit Spider-Man”. This one-of-a-kind timepiece comes in a white gold case decorated with a spider leg motif. The case is first laser-engraved to create the spider’s legs, which are then filled with luminescent hybrid ceramic. It is then polished and finely engraved by laser once more to form a spider’s web in the background.
It is combined with a black ceramic bezel with ceramic also adorning the caseback that bears the words “Royal Oak Concept Unique Piece” in white. Spider-Man appears on the dial in a black suit, a reference to the one worn by the Super Hero in several 1980s comics, notably The Amazing Spider-Man #252 in 1984. This lesser-known representation of the character makes the piece unique and more mysterious, as does the luminescent material, which glows green in the dark, seen on the hands, hour-markers and part of the character.
For the first time, the 42 mm Royal Oak Concept case is equipped with an interchangeable strap system, which allows the owner of the watch to change the strap and buckle in a few simple steps. Equipped with a black and grey rubber strap and a titanium AP buckle, the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider-Man” comes with a second black and red rubber strap, matching the famous suit of the Marvel Super Hero. The unique Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Black Suit Spider-Man” comes with a black rubber strap with a velvety texture and a second black calfskin leather strap with a textile effect and white stitching.
