Audemars Piguet unveiled the new 43 mm Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date 26650FO introducing a new luminescent forged carbon
Audemars Piguet unveiled the new 43 mm Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date 26650FO, which introduces the use of a brand-new coloured forged carbon, a first for the brand.
Similar to what was seen in 2023 in the Cyrus Klepcys DICE Lime Carbon with its carbon bezel that illuminates in low-light conditions, Audemars Piguet’s Chroma Forged Technology (CFT) is a non-porous carbon which features blue luminescent pigments. This ultra-light material is used in the case middle and is complemented by a black ceramic bezel, crown, push-pieces and caseback.
Audemars Piguet’s CFT allows carbon fibers to be coloured directly rather than the resin, offering new design possibilities. With lower resin content than traditional forged carbon, CFT is more resistant to scratches.
The process starts with cutting carbon fibers into small pieces, which are then coloured with pigments. These coloured pieces are placed in a mold with resin. Several layers are built manually.
The mold is then compressed to remove air bubbles and cured in an autoclave for around ten hours, producing a solid carbon block. This block is then machined for six to eight hours to form the final component. Since the blending is done by hand, each case shows a unique pattern.
Measuring 43 mm x 17.4 mm and water resistant to 50 metres / 165 feet, the case is slightly curved to follow the shape of the wrist. The push-piece guards at 2, 4 and 9 o’clock are crafted from titanium echoing components of the openworked dial.
The openworked dial reveals part of the mechanisms, with circular apertures cut into a single sandblasted nickel silver plate, finished with black PVD and decorated with diamond-polished rhodium-toned bevels.
In keeping with the blue highlights of the case middle, the inner bezel and the external zones of the three counters are finished in an electric blue hue, which contrasts with the grey and black tones of the movement while enhancing legibility.
The white gold hour-markers and hands are filled with luminescent material that glows blue in low-light environments.
The GMT day-night display located at 3 o’clock can be adjusted using the crown’s coaxial push-piece (one press moves the time by one hour).
The pushers at 2 and 4 o'clock are used for the start, stop and reset chronograph operations. The flyback function allows the wearer to reset and restart the chronograph without having to stop it first as it happens in a regular chronograph.
The split-seconds mechanism enables to measure intermediate time intervals thanks to the addition of a split-seconds hand that can be stopped independently of the chronograph hand when the dedicated pusher at 9 o’clock is activated. When the latter is pressed again, it catches up to the running hand.
The caseback showcases the self-winding Calibre 4407 (introduced in 2023 for reference 26650TI), also featured in and its advanced split-seconds mechanism which has been inserted within the ball bearing holding the platinum oscillating weight to reduce the movement’s height. Beating at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), this movement has an autonomy of 70 hours.
The watch features an integrated blue rubber strap. Fitted with the interchangeability system introduced in the 43 mm Royal Oak Concept collection in 2023, the watch comes with a blue rubber strap as well as a second black and blue rubber strap.
The price of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date ref. 26650FO.OO.D353CA.01 is available only on request. audemarspiguet.com
Suggested reading:
- The history of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
- The history of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
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