The Royal Oak, which features an openwork dial, allows you to fully enjoy the beauty of its mechanical movement and offers a different appeal than the basic model. We will introduce the history of the Royal Oak Openwork and its main models.
Royal Oak with an Openwork Dial
Let's take a look at the appeal of the Royal Oak, Audemars Piguet's signature model. We'll also take a look at the features of this model, which retains the distinctive case, bezel, and bracelet designs while combining them with an openwork dial.
What is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak?
The Royal Oak, which was born in 1972, was the first luxury watch to be made of stainless steel at a time when solid gold was the norm.
It features an octagonal bezel, exposed screws, and a bracelet that is integrated with the case, and was designed by the genius watch designer Gerald Genta (1931-2011).
Although it is a sports watch, it maintains a luxurious feel and matches any occasion or fashion. It is also highly durable and extremely practical.
Openworked Royal Oak
The first openworked Royal Oak model was the Ref. 25829, released in 1996. It incorporated a perpetual calendar into the Caliber 2121 movement and was a long-selling model that had long been popular. There are also a small number of skeletonized versions of the Jumbo.
The Ref. 15305 ST.OO.1220ST.01, released in 2010, was equipped with a movement designed by Japanese watchmaker Naohiro Hamaguchi. In 2012, the Ref. 15203 PT.OO.1240PT.01, an openwork version of the Royal Oak "Jumbo" Extra-Thin, was released.
In 2016, the Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked (Ref. 15407 ST.OO.1220ST.01) was unveiled at the SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie). The reference number and central second hand indicate that it is an openworked version of the Ref. 15400.
What is the appeal of openwork?
Openwork watches have a long history, with a design that was created over 200 years ago. We will introduce the unique appeal of openwork watches, which allow you to see the inside of the watch.
The History and Definition of Openworked Watches
An openwork watch is a model with a hollowed-out dial that exposes the movement and frame, allowing you to see the inner workings of the watch, which are made up of hundreds of parts.
Openwork watches are said to have originated in the 18th century. There is a famous story about Queen Marie Antoinette, who wanted the ultimate in luxury in a watch, ordering one from the genius watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet.
Because it took two generations of father and son to complete the watch, neither Breguet himself nor the queen were able to see it. However, it became a hot topic among the upper classes, and paved the way for the history of openwork watches that continues to this day.
Enjoy the beauty of the machine that only an openwork can offer
A mechanical watch movement is a precision machine made up of hundreds of parts. Openwork watches allow you to enjoy the intricate structure of tiny parts, their finish, and how they function beautifully.
Another feature of openwork is that it is a technique used in high-quality watches. The fact that the inside of the watch is exposed for the viewer to see shows the confidence of each manufacturer.
Openwork watches, which display complex structures that have been carefully combined, are also popular for their intellectual aura.
