Audemars Piguet x Carolina Bucci, Royal Oak Self-winding 34mm
In celebration of the Royal Oak’s fiftieth anniversary, the Italian jewellery designer has created a dial endowed with a unique multi-coloured mirror effect paying tribute to the iconic Tapisserie design. Share
For her third collaboration with Audemars Piguet, Carolina Bucci has left behind her hammering technique, known as Frosted Gold, to enrich an all-black ceramic piece with a surprising dial. Always looking to meet new challenges, she decided to focus on contrasts. At first glance, the dial appears black, but on closer inspection it reveals a multi-coloured spectrum that brings the Tapisserie effect to life in the ever-changing light. To reach this result, a sapphire plate adorned with little squares achieved through micro-structuring is added on top of the brass dial plate to create rich rainbow-coloured plays of light.
A golden metallisation, specially developed for the occasion, is also applied onto the back of the sapphire plate to create a mirror effect and shine lights onto the dial. The pattern of iridescent colours varies from dial to dial, making each design unique. This limited edition comes in a presentation box that has also been designed by Carolina Bucci. For this special occasion, the jewellery designer wanted to use the Tapisserie pattern in relief, going into the finest details, to pay homage to the 1972 classic.
The black ceramic case and bracelet are highlighted by hexagonal pink gold screws that secure the bezel and create an elegant contrast of colours. All the components of the case and bracelet are finished with the Manufacture’s signature satin-finishing that is paired with polished chamfers for a maximum play on light.
The bracelet has been slightly revised to provide a better visual effect. The pins connecting the links to the studs are no longer visible from the side, but are directly integrated into the studs.
The titanium and sapphire caseback is engraved with the inscription “Limited Edition Carolina Bucci” and reveals the Calibre 5800 beneath, which indicates the hours, minutes, seconds and date. In keeping with the finish on the screws, hour-markers and hands, the 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight features elegant microbead-blasted, polished and satin finishes.
On the dial, the AP monogram has vanished to leave pride of place to the long-form signature which has been engraved on top of the sapphire plate and filled with white lacquer due to the singularity of the dial imagined by Carolina Bucci.
The result is as unexpected as it is elegant. This limited edition is designed for both men and women and is available exclusively in Audemars Piguet boutiques and AP Houses.
Limited edition of 300 pieces – Guide Price CHF 48,500
Technical Specifications
Functions
- Hours, minutes, centre seconds and date.
Case
- Black ceramic case, 18-carat pink gold screws, glareproofed sapphire crystal, titanium and glareproofed sapphire caseback, water resistant to 50 m.
- Case thickness: 8.8 mm
Dial
- Rainbow-coloured sapphire dial with mirror polished effect highlighting the laser-structured drawing imitating the geometry of the Royal Oak Tapisserie, pink gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating.
Bracelet
- Black ceramic bracelet with titanium AP folding clasp.
Movement
- Selfwinding Calibre 5800
- Total diameter 23.9 mm (10 ½ lignes)
- Total thickness 3.9 mm
- Number of jewels 29
- Number of parts 186
- Minimum power reserve guaranteed 50 h
- Frequency of balance wheel 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)
