.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
This magnificent Royal Oak Concept Openworked Flying Tourbillon brings a new and colourful angle to the Royal Oak Concept collection. Christie’s is delighted to present this first example at auction of the ‘Rainbow’ reference 26229BC. Furthermore, this spectacular creation is accompanied by the full set of accessories.
One of AP’s most ambitious gem-set wristwatches, the ‘rainbow’ bezel is composed of 32 baguette-cut multicoloured gemstones, the 18k white gold case, inner bezel and buckle is set with brilliant-cut diamonds, the white gold openworked dial and movement are further set with diamonds. Each stone has been individually shaped and polished for an exact fit before being set by the most skilled jewellers in the industry. The invisible gem setting for each timepiece takes an incredible 150 hours of work.
The openworked caliber 2951 manually wound movement with flying tourbillon, a mechanism that compensates for the effect of gravity and thus enhances the watch’s timekeeping performance, is visible at 6 o’clock. The centre of the tourbillon is set with brilliant-cut gemstones, an impressive achievement in itself.
The Royal Oak Concept
The wristwatches of Audemars Piguet’s ‘Royal Oak Concept’ series are fiercely contemporary watchmaking masterpieces that have captivated collectors for almost two decades. The ‘Concept’ watches were devised as a conduit to showcase not only AP’s famed command of complications, but also a desire to experiment with materials and design that is usually the preserve of the independent watchmaker.
Audemars Piguet is one of the triumvirate of great Swiss watch houses who, along with Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin, unrelentingly strive for both excellence and new innovation in watchmaking. Inspired by the idea of the ‘concept car’ used by car manufacturers to showcase new styling and technology, the watches Audemars Piguet have produced under the umbrella of the ‘Royal Oak Concept’ name have enabled the company to ingeniously bring into small-scale production a parallel ‘Royal Oak’ model endowed with radical cutting-edge innovations that not only greatly enhances the image and reputation of the brand, but also at the same time preserves the integrity of the original ‘Royal Oak’ range so beloved by AP purists. Audemars Piguet have always been famed for their mastery of high complications, to this end, the ‘Royal Oak Concept’ series provides a perfect platform from which AP’s master watchmakers can test not only the limits of their technical and mechanical prowess, but also to explore avant-garde design combined with state of the art materials, some entirely new to watchmaking. Indeed, the present Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon ‘Rainbow’ is the culmination of the work of an entire team of watchmakers and designers and brought to life with the astounding skills of the very best artisan craftsmen.
One of AP’s most ambitious gem-set wristwatches, the ‘rainbow’ bezel is composed of 32 baguette-cut multicoloured gemstones, the 18k white gold case, inner bezel and buckle is set with brilliant-cut diamonds, the white gold openworked dial and movement are further set with diamonds. Each stone has been individually shaped and polished for an exact fit before being set by the most skilled jewellers in the industry. The invisible gem setting for each timepiece takes an incredible 150 hours of work.
The openworked caliber 2951 manually wound movement with flying tourbillon, a mechanism that compensates for the effect of gravity and thus enhances the watch’s timekeeping performance, is visible at 6 o’clock. The centre of the tourbillon is set with brilliant-cut gemstones, an impressive achievement in itself.
The Royal Oak Concept
The wristwatches of Audemars Piguet’s ‘Royal Oak Concept’ series are fiercely contemporary watchmaking masterpieces that have captivated collectors for almost two decades. The ‘Concept’ watches were devised as a conduit to showcase not only AP’s famed command of complications, but also a desire to experiment with materials and design that is usually the preserve of the independent watchmaker.
Audemars Piguet is one of the triumvirate of great Swiss watch houses who, along with Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin, unrelentingly strive for both excellence and new innovation in watchmaking. Inspired by the idea of the ‘concept car’ used by car manufacturers to showcase new styling and technology, the watches Audemars Piguet have produced under the umbrella of the ‘Royal Oak Concept’ name have enabled the company to ingeniously bring into small-scale production a parallel ‘Royal Oak’ model endowed with radical cutting-edge innovations that not only greatly enhances the image and reputation of the brand, but also at the same time preserves the integrity of the original ‘Royal Oak’ range so beloved by AP purists. Audemars Piguet have always been famed for their mastery of high complications, to this end, the ‘Royal Oak Concept’ series provides a perfect platform from which AP’s master watchmakers can test not only the limits of their technical and mechanical prowess, but also to explore avant-garde design combined with state of the art materials, some entirely new to watchmaking. Indeed, the present Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon ‘Rainbow’ is the culmination of the work of an entire team of watchmakers and designers and brought to life with the astounding skills of the very best artisan craftsmen.