Audemars Piguet Unveils New "Sand Gold" Material for the Royal Oak

Swiss Haute Horlogerie powerhouse, Audemars Piguet, has unveiled a new color: “sand gold,” crafted from 18-carat gold alloy and expressed through its Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked timepiece. This novel material, which exhibits an interplay of light, presents a unique color that flits between the hues of white and pink gold depending on the lighting and viewing angle.

The introduction of sand gold marks a significant milestone for Audemars Piguet, offering a fresh and versatile aesthetic to the iconic Royal Oak collection. The new 41 mm timepiece is not just a testament to the brand’s relentless pursuit of innovation but also a celebration of craftsmanship and design. The sand gold alloy, inspired by the radiant glow of sand dunes under sunlight, integrates gold with copper and palladium, ensuring a warm, inviting color and also resistance to discoloration over time.

To complement the stunning sand gold case and bracelet, the manufacture has skillfully developed a sand-gold-toned hue for the open-worked bridges and main plate of the Calibre 2972. This careful color coordination, achieved through galvanic treatment, sets off the multi-layered architecture of the movement, visible from both sides of the watch. The contrast between the sand-gold-toned components and the rhodium-toned inner workings creates a captivating 3D effect, showcasing the technical complexity of the timepiece.

The Royal Oak’s trademark design elements, like the alternating satin brushing and polished chamfers, are meticulously applied to the sand gold case and bracelet, enhancing the material’s unique light play. The octagonal bezel’s large mirror-polished bevels, along with the meticulously chamfered links and studs of the bracelet, contribute to the watch’s dynamic visuals.

Calibre 2972, which made its debut in 2022 during the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary, combines a self-winding mechanism with a flying tourbillon, offering both precision and elegance. The movement’s sophisticated and multi-layered openworked architecture, highlighted by the new sand gold and rhodium-toned finishes, exemplifies Audemars Piguet’s mastery in blending traditional craftsmanship with modern technology.

At the time of writing, details on the price and availability of Audemars Piguet’s new sand gold Royal Oak have not yet been shared.