WORLD FIRST! The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel 15407BA in Yellow Gold!
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked Yellow Gold
I have to say that despite my very heathen preference for stainless steel, there is no better feeling than closing the clasp on a solid lump of 18 carat gold that drapes around the wrist thanks to a fantastically engineered silky bracelet.
I would hope that the last four words in that sentence brings the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak immediately to mind as there really is no other bracelet like it, particularly when delivered in a decidedly opulent heavy metal.
This is the AP Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked 1407BA and it makes me feel like Pharoh Oscar :D
Being full gold, it’d a hefty piece but it’s 41mm stature draws the weight evenly across the wrist making it exceptionally comfortable to wear, not quite so comfortable that you don’t feel its presence, but you won’t increase you biceps as a result of wearing it.
Its a slim watch at 10mm thick and wears closer to 42-43mm due to the angular case and integrated bracelet, this is a feature of the entire model line. The integrated end pieces draw out the length of the watch to 54mm. It’s not remotely petite.
It is broad, balanced, and as ever with AP, a drop dead gorgeous mix of brutalist design, satin brushwork, and ultra precise mirror polishing to reflect every angle to the point that this thing positively glistens when you move your wrist.
More so than steel, which is strange given that the finishing is identical but seems to be dialled up to 90 thanks to the use of gold.
The case is AP’s signature Royal Oak shape with its Genta designed divers helmet inspired bezel which is attached to the case using 8 white gold bolts that pass through the body and bed into the caseback at the rear.
These bolts hold the sandwich case construction together as its a 3 parter featuring bezel, mid case, and caseback.
Just beneath the bezel sits a back sliver of visible gasket which acts as both a design signature and to create a seal to aid with its 50m water resistance.
Case flanks are satinated with a polished bevels and a hexagonal screw-down crown continues the geometry as its shape matches that of the bezel bolts.
The dial is the glory feature here to the point that the model is named after it.
First thing of note is that this has been NAC treated.
NAC stands for (N-acetylcysteine), probably best not to try and pronounce it.
Nonetheless it’s an electrolysis treatment that results in the anthracite or slate grey colour.
This finish offers a readable contrast for the polished and lumed gold hands which are easily discernible at a glance against the dark background as well as decoratively highlighting the un-treated parts of the movement such as the golden bridge and balance wheels.
The movement is Audemars hand finished in-house calibre 3132, A 35 jewel automatic skeleton movement which has a second balance wheel and spring that increases mass and inertia to offer more stability and precision.
A technical way of saying “more accurate timekeeping”.
Power reserve is approximately 45 hours so its not going to make it through a weekend on the nightstand but the simple answer to that is WEAR IT.