Audemars Piguet is expanding its Royal Oak and Code 11.59 collections with five new timepieces that place two distinct aspects of watchmaking under the spotlight: the engineering behind its Supersonnerie minute repeaters and the natural character of stone dials.
The latest releases comprise three chiming watches powered by the Manufacture’s Calibre 2953, alongside two 38mm Code 11.59 Selfwinding models featuring obsidian and onyx dials.
The Supersonnerie technology has a particularly interesting history. Developed over eight years in collaboration with watchmakers, musicians and researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), the mechanism was first introduced in the Royal Oak Concept RD#1 in 2016. Its construction incorporates patented gongs mounted on a dedicated soundboard, alongside an innovative case architecture and regulator, designed to improve the resonance and clarity of the chime.
Two of the new minute repeaters extend the 42mm Royal Oak line. One is crafted entirely in titanium, with a smoked green sunburst dial and integrated bracelet. The other marks the collection’s first interpretation of the complication in 18-carat pink gold, paired with a brown Grande Tapisserie dial and matching bracelet. Both feature alternating satin-brushed and polished surfaces, a signature of the Royal Oak design.
The third watch brings Supersonnerie technology to the 41mm Code 11.59 Minute Repeater. Its 18-carat white gold case is paired with a smoked sapphire dial, offering a view of the manual-winding movement beneath. A grey alligator strap completes the design. Calibre 2953 comprises 362 components, has a minimum guaranteed power reserve of 72 hours and operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour.
Elsewhere, two new 38mm Code 11.59 Selfwinding models explore the possibilities of natural stone. The first combines an 18-carat yellow gold case with a gold obsidian dial, whose mineral inclusions catch the light beneath a sunburst finish. A shimmering black alligator strap provides a contrasting finish.
The second pairs 18-carat pink gold with a mirror-polished black onyx dial, punctuated by baguette-cut diamond hour markers totalling approximately 0.37 carats. Both watches are powered by self-winding Calibre 5909, offering a 60-hour power reserve.
Together, the releases demonstrate the breadth of Audemars Piguet’s approach to contemporary watchmaking, balancing the technical demands of traditional complications with an increasingly material-led approach to design.
