Introducing: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date
Today, we’ll look at the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date. This is a wild piece, and it debuts an innovative case material that took over five years of development. Get ready for some bright visual stimulation!
The Audemars Piguet Concept offerings are typically filled with new technology from the brand. In a sense, they’re like futuristic concept cars, but these watches go into limited production. A quick look at the various Concept pieces for sale on Chrono24 reveals many prior Royal Oak offerings, and none are below the six-figure mark! That’s worth remembering when looking at the new Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph because AP hasn’t provided a retail price.
The Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date
Let’s get it straight: this watch has a mouthful of a name! From now on, I’ll refer to it as the Split-Seconds Chronograph to make it easier on your eyes. The watch has a 43mm case made from a novel material that I’ll discuss in more detail. We’ve seen this case design on prior Concept models, and it’s commanding. With a thickness of 17.4mm, it’s a brash offering from AP. Sapphire crystals grace the front and back, providing a full display of the movement. The watches come on a blue rubber strip with a titanium folding clasp. For added versatility, AP includes a black strap with the watch. Also, this wild wonder can partake in an occasional French Riviera plunge with a 50m water resistance rating.
The case design
The new Split-Seconds Chronograph has a complex case with a lineup of materials that reads like a Formula 1 car. A black bezel made of ceramic houses eight familiar titanium screws. The same material makes up the crown and pushers on either side of the case. Then, AP chose titanium for the various pusher guards. The real news, though, is the mid-case and the use of a new material dubbed CFT (Chroma Forged Technology).
CFT, a new material
The press material tells us that the AP R&D team worked for over five years on perfecting the material, and a patent was issued to protect the manufacturing process. First, there are multiple benefits of this new material. It is more resistant to shocks, scratches, and humidity than traditional carbon. The humidity resistance stems from less porosity, and the heightened scratch resistance comes from less resin in the blend.
What’s especially interesting is the ability to color the individual carbon fibers with pigment and arrange them in the mold to one’s liking. Resin is then added, and the process is repeated until the appropriate volume is achieved. Then, the block is placed in an autoclave and cured. Machining occurs over six to eight hours until the final mid-case shape remains. But wait; there’s more! For the Split-Seconds Chronograph, AP chose a luminous blue pigment, which results in a fantastic display in dark environments. It’s stunning, and I’d love to see one in person.
A modern dial to match the case material
The AP Royal Oak Concept models normally come with audacious dial designs, and the new Split-Seconds Chronograph stays on trend. It has an open dial that complements the modern case design and shows off the watch’s inner workings. A black PVD-coated nickel plate is the basis for the dial. Note the rhodium-plated, polished edges and the blue-finished counters. White gold hands and indexes are filled with white luminous material that glows blue in darkness.
Functionally, the watch has a flyback mechanism and split-seconds chronograph. The date display at the top of the dial has two skeletonized discs that rotate over a luminous platform. The result is digital-looking at night. Regarding the indicators, a bottom sub-dial shows running seconds, the left register is a 30-minute counter, and the right sub-dial is a 24-hour GMT. The pusher at 9 o’clock adjusts the GMT.
The Audemars Piguet 4407 Split-Seconds Chronograph movement
The lengthy list of functionality sources its power from the in-house automatic caliber 4407. This movement debuted in 2023, contains 73 jewels, and provides 70 hours of power reserve. It also has a frequency of 28,800vph. Unsurprisingly, the movement is complex and has 638 parts! Other niceties are the wide array of finishing techniques and a non-magnetic balance spring.
Final thoughts
The new Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date will be produced in limited quantities. Undoubtedly, it will also be severely expensive. Therefore, think of it as a showing of what Audemars Piguet can create when there are no boundaries. Is this a watch I’d happily wear? I usually opt for more conservatively styled watches, but I can appreciate the innovation and work that went into this piece.
For more information on the new Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date, visit the official Audemars Piguet site.
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