SimplyAbuDhabi XLII

A lways innovative, Audemars Piguet pushes its material exploration further with two 42mmRoyal Oak Minute Repeater Supersonnerie versions. These two stunning timepieces are presented for the first time in a black ceramic case, offering a sleek look offset with refined white gold and titanium details. Equipped with the Manufacture’s state-of-the-art Supersonnerie mechanism and powered by the patented hand-wound minute repeater movement, Calibre 2953, these timepieces present an exceptional acoustic performance that transcends ceramic’s limited sound conductivity. Blending contemporary design with cutting-edge technology, the two models open new technical and aesthetic horizons for theRoyal Oak collection. Asleekaesthetic The two timepieces incorporate a full black ceramic caseback – a first at Audemars Piguet. With its multitude of apertures on the side – meant to amplify the minute repeater’s sound when the watch is worn – the caseback epitomises the painstaking manufacturing and finishing operations ceramic components go through to highlight the material’s nuances and the multifaceted shape of the Royal Oak case. The ceramic used contains Zirconium Oxide powder (ZrO2) combined with a binding agent. It achieves its final uniform colour once it has been sintered at a temperature of over 1,000 °C. Each component is then pre-polished and pre-satin-brushed before being meticulously finished by hand to achieve the Manufacture’s trademark alternation of satin brushing and polished chamfers. Lastly, the casebacks have been engraved with sonic waves in tribute to the incredible acoustic performance granted by the Supersonnerie mechanism. The timepieces’ black monochromatic aesthetic continues onto the Grand Tapisserie dials with their minute train and AUDEMARS PIGUET: ROYAL OAK MINUTE REPEATER SUPERSONNERIE TIMEPIECES Two expressions in black ceramic Simply Abu Dhabi | 181