Audemars Piguet Marks the End of the Pioneering RD Series With the Royal Oak RD#5

Summary

• Audemars Piguet unveils the Royal Oak RD#5, the final RD series iteration
• It’s the first Royal Oak “Jumbo” with a flyback chronograph and flying tourbillon
• It features a newly patented Calibre 8100 and limited to 150 examples only

Audemars Piguet has unveiled the Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5, marking the final iteration of its groundbreaking Research & Development series. For the first time in its 50-year history, the Royal Oak “Jumbo” combines Gérald Genta’s iconic 39 mm by 8.1 mm profile with dual complications, all housed in a lightweight titanium case and adorned with the Maison’s emblematic Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 dial. Two radial subdials flank a flying tourbillon that beats proudly at six o’clock.

Inside, the newly patented Calibre 8100 pairs a flyback chronograph with a flying tourbillon and a rare instant-jump minute counter. The Maison’s R&D team undertook an exhaustive ergonomic study to reduce chronograph push-piece travel to just 0.3 mm and lower activation force to 300 g – values inspired by modern smartphone buttons – while retaining full water resistance and tactile precision.

The RD#5 also introduces a discreet function-selector crown in place of the traditional pull-out stem, and flat glass-box sapphire crystals hollowed on the inside to preserve the watch’s slender profile without compromising hand clearance or automatic-winding efficiency. Limited to 150 examples, this milestone model ushers in a new chapter for Audemars Piguet’s innovation ecosystem. It is priced at CHF 260,000 (approx. $326,518 USD) and available exclusively through the Maison’s boutiques.