Released at the SIHH 2018, the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked Black Ceramic ref. 26343CE continues to capitalize on the expertise mastered by Audemars Piguet when it comes to the use of black ceramic for its watch cases. Available in four different variations with color accents on the minute track, 30-minute chronograph register and the chronograph seconds hand —light grey, blue, green and gold accents— this incredible 44 mm watch features a tourbillon and a 30-minute chronograph. The watch is available in a limited edition of 25 pieces for each color combination and exclusively sold at the Audemars Piguet Boutiques.
About the Watch
The sleek glamour of the black ceramic case, bezel and sapphire case back marries well with the blackened mainplate, as well as the rhodium plated barrel, balance wheel, tourbillon bridge and gear train of this new limited edition. It features a two-tone black rubber strap with elegantly understated color highlights on the sides, in a choice of grey, blue, green and gold for each respective model. The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked ref. 26343CE features a tourbillon cage at 6 o'clock, a 30-minute chrono register at 3 and a running seconds register at 9 o'clock.
Fitted with a very robust 44 mm case in black ceramic, the case features the traditional satin-brushed finish that AP is very well known for. Built like a tank with a case thickness of 13.2 —almost as thick as a Royal Oak Offshore— but lightweight due to its ceramic case, this watch is simply as sexy as it gets.
Water resistant to 20 meters, the Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked Black Ceramic ref. 26343CE is fitted with a black rubber strap and with a second two-tone strap with edges and inside matching the color of the dial configuration —grey, blue, green or gold.
The Movement
Powering this new AP Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked in Black Ceramic ref. 26343CE is the AP manual wound calibre 2936 composed of 299 parts and 28 jewels. The calibre is relatively small —with a diameter of 29.90 mm— when compared to the diameter of the watch case. The movement beats at a frequency of 21,600 vph and provides a power reserve of 72 hours when fully wound. Fully visible via the display case back and the dial side, the movement is exquisitely finished and a true work of art. At the bottom, one can admire that column-wheel mechanism. Additionally, this calibre features a semi-instantaneous jump of the chronograph minute hand within an interval of approximately half a second in order to facilitate time measurement reading.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked Black Ceramic ref. 26343CE wears slightly bigger than its 44 mm size and more like a 45 mm timepiece on a 7.25" wrist. The wrist presence is immaculate and super light. Definitely a perfect daily wearer with a very sporty blacked out look that comes with just the right amount of color here and there, to make it pop a little bit more.
Sticker Price CHF290,000 —approximately $307,000 USD. For more info on Audemars Piguet click here.
