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Sand Gold: A New Material for Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak F urthering its material exploration, Audemars Piguet has introduced its very first timepiece crafted in sand gold, a new 18-carat gold alloy conferring rich plays of light. Hovering between white and pink gold, its colour changes depending on the angle and light, thus offering varied aesthetic possibilities. The Manufacture premieres this precious metal with the launch of a new Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked in 41 mm. To complement the new gold case and bracelet, Audemars Piguet developed a matching sand-gold-toned hue to adorn the openworked bridges and mainplate of Calibre 2972, whose multilayered architecture takes centre stage on both sides of the watch. This new galvanic colour sits in subtle contrast with the rhodium- toned components of the movement’s inner workings to create a unique 3D effect. The result is a harmonious scene blending technical complexity with contemporary design. A new shade of gold The new 41 mm Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked premieres the use of sand gold at Audemars Piguet. This 18-carat gold alloy, named after sand dunes in the sunlight, combines gold with copper and palladium for a warm rendering. Wavering between white and pink gold, it offers subtle colour variations depending on the light. In addition, it provides resistance to discolouration over time, making it both a durable and timeless material. The sand gold case and bracelet are finished with the Manufacture’s trademark alternation of satin brushing and polished chamfers. The large mirror-polished bevels of the octagonal bezel and the chamfers adorning every link and stud of the tapering bracelet accentuate the play of light conferred by this precious material. To match the case and bracelet, the Manufacture has developed a sand-gold-toned hue, obtained through galvanic treatment, to adorn the inner bezel as well as the openworked bridges and mainplate of Calibre 2972, visible on both sides of the watch. The openworked components have been finished horizontally and vertically to accentuate the movement’s depth, while the brushed and polished angles enhance the play of light. The sand-gold-toned bridges and mainplate are contrasted with touches of grey. The rhodium-toned barrel, geartrain and flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock are complemented by white gold hour-markers and hands, all filled with luminescent material. To give pride of place to the movement’s openworked architecture, the “Audemars Piguet” signature has been printed in black on the glareproofed sapphire crystal at 12 o’clock. On the caseback side, the rhodium-toned 22-carat pink gold oscillating weight furthers the two-tone aesthetic of the openworked movement. 204 | Simply Abu Dhabi