Audemars Piguet presents the Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 “150th Anniversary”. Price: CHF 260,000
With the new Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 “150th Anniversary”, Audemars Piguet presents a chronograph conceived to significantly improve ergonomics and ease of use.
This model is the fifth of the RD series, created by the Research & Development department of the Swiss watchmaker to provide structural solutions to longstanding challenges in Haute Horlogerie. It follows the RD#1 minute repeater, the RD#2 ultra-thin perpetual calendar, the RD#3 ultra-thin selfwinding flying tourbillon, and the RD#4, the most complex wristwatch ever produced by the Manufacture.
Coinciding with the brand’s 150th anniversary, the RD#5 introduces the new Calibre 8100, developed in-house and reimagined to redefine the touch sensitivity of chronograph push-pieces.
It features an instant-jump minute counter with an hour counter and, for the first time in the Royal Oak collection, combines a flyback chronograph with a flying tourbillon.
This timepiece is crafted from titanium and bulk metallic glass (BMG) to offer lightness, durability and brilliance.
Despite accommodating two complications, the case retains the proportions of the original “Jumbo,” measuring 39 mm in diameter and only 8.1 mm thick.
The signature Petite Tapisserie dial in “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50” reinforces the timepiece’s aesthetic sophistication, highlighted by rhodium-toned gold hour markers and luminescent hands in 18-carat white gold.
The counters at 3 and 9 o’clock are rendered in the same blue with a snailed finish for enhanced legibility, while the chronograph hands are made of titanium for added lightness. Marking Audemars Piguet’s 150th anniversary, the dial bears a special signature inspired by archival designs at 12 o’clock.
To enhance user comfort while preserving the Royal Oak’s design codes, Audemars Piguet’s R&D team re-engineered the chronograph mechanism. The push-pieces flanking the crown at 3 o’clock illustrate this work. In a conventional chronograph, they typically require a travel of at least 1 mm and a force of about 1.5 kilograms to engage.
In the RD#5, travel has been reduced to 0.3 mm and the required pressure to 300 grams, offering tactile comfort closer to smartphone buttons.
Earlier models from the 1950s and 1960s achieved smoothness through meticulous manual adjustment, but the introduction of water-resistant seals and industrialised production from the 1970s increased activation forces.
The new system restores finesse, with push-pieces that store energy when activated and release it on reset for a smoother experience.
The crown incorporates a discreet function selector with a visual indicator for winding and time-setting. This solution replaces the pocket-watch-derived crown while preserving the design of the Royal Oak.
To maintain the finesse of the “Jumbo,” engineers employed sapphire crystals in a ‘glass box’ design on both sides. Flat on the exterior yet hollowed inside, the crystals create the necessary space for the oscillating weight, the movement and the rotation of the hands while keeping proportions true to the model.
Chronographs have evolved in form and function for over 150 years, yet their reset mechanism based on the hammer and heart piece has remained largely unchanged.
Calibre 8100 replaces this with a patented rack-and-pinion system. Energy is stored in the rack, keeping the gear train under tension and preventing the chronograph hand from shuddering.
This solution also eliminates the friction spring used in most modern chronographs, which consumes energy continuously. While overall energy use remains similar, it is now stored and released rather than dissipated.
Resetting has also been optimised. Traditional chronographs require significant energy for this step. In Calibre 8100 the stored energy is released to return the chronograph hand to zero in a retrograde motion. Lightweight titanium components, including the hand and chronograph wheel, allow for an instantaneous reset, with the hand returning to zero in less than 0.15 seconds.
Careful regulation ensures that the reset is almost imperceptible to the eye while enabling the rare and highly valued instantaneous minute jump. Minute counters in chronographs can behave in three ways: trailing, where the hand progresses slowly, semi-instantaneous, with a slight advance followed by a jump, and instantaneous, a quick increment at the end of the second hand’s revolution. The instantaneous jump, offered here, is particularly sought after by collectors for its technical refinement.
The calibre also incorporates a vertical clutch system combining elements of traditional and friction clutches. The clutch wheel moves vertically, reducing unnecessary rotations and limiting jumps. A column wheel ensures smooth start and stop operations, while the patented energy storage system guarantees quick and precise resets.
On the back, a platinum peripheral oscillating weight reduces thickness and keeps the movement fully visible. The calibre is decorated with hand-bevelled bridges, sharp inward angles and satin brushing. With a 72-hour power reserve, it is robust enough for daily use, including sporting activities, without risk of deregulation.
The Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 brings together a reimagined chronograph architecture, refined ergonomics and the integration of a flying tourbillon in the classic Jumbo case. And although this innovation may or may not extend beyond the RD programme into standard production models, it already marks a significant step in both the Royal Oak collection and the development of chronographs.
The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 “150th Anniversary”(ref. 26545XT.OO.1240XT.01) is a limited edition of 150 pieces, as indicated by the “1 of 150 pieces” and the “150” logo engravings on the caseback. The price is CHF 260,0000. audemarspiguet.com
Suggested reading:
COMMENTS