Audemars Piguet introduces new polychrome materials in ceramic and gold

Audemars Piguet unveiled new polychrome materials featuring an unprecedented camouflage aesthetic created using SPS: Chroma Ceramic and Chroma Gold.

Audemars Piguet has unveiled new polychrome materials featuring an unprecedented camouflage aesthetic, which will be incorporated into the brand's models in the near future.

The first of these materials is Chroma Ceramic, developed by Audemars Piguet’s R&D teams using Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), a technology that allows the ceramic powder to be sintered rapidly, reducing the time from several hours to just a few dozen minutes.

To achieve this multi-coloured camouflage motif, powders of various coloured ceramics are placed in a circular graphite mould. The mould is then subjected to sintering with a powerful electric current passing through the graphite. This current causes a rapid and significant increase in temperature, which, combined with mechanical pressure applied to both sides of the mould, enables the swift sintering process, resulting in the formation of a ceramic disc.

The compression of the ceramic powders during the sintering cycle results in each piece being unique, with the pattern varying slightly each time. Despite these variations in pattern, this technique ensures visual consistency between the different ceramic components. In addition, each disc produced can be used to create a case or a bezel.

The resulting discs, which are extremely hard, are then machined until the desired shape is achieved. 

Each component is then pre-polished and pre-satin-brushed before being hand-finished to achieve an alternation of satin finishing and polished chamfers.

The second innovative material with a camouflage motif is called Chroma Gold.

Similar to Chroma Ceramic, this patented polychrome gold is created using Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technology, resulting in discs that display various shades of gold, harmoniously combined during the powder distribution process.

The compression of the gold powders during the sintering cycle ensures that each piece is unique, with patterns that vary slightly from model to model.

These discs can be used to craft cases, bezels, or bracelet links, enhancing the distinctive appearance of each piece.

The various components are hand-finished to bring out the nuances of yellow, white and pink gold.

With these new materials – a first for Audemars Piguet and the watchmaking industry as a whole – the Manufacture based in Le Brassus is expanding the range of possibilities in terms of material combinations, personalisation and design. audemarspiguet.com