Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet has unveiled a new limited-edition timepiece to mark its 150th anniversary.
The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “150th Anniversary” Openworked is set to be the final reference equipped with the brand’s Calibre 5135 movement, drawing a close to nearly a decade of technical innovation.
This 41 mm wristwatch, limited to 150 pieces, pays tribute to Audemars Piguet’s legacy while highlighting its continued exploration of materials and design. The model’s combination of titanium and palladium-based Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG) in the case and bracelet represents a high-tech approach.
BMG, used for the bezel, caseback frame and bracelet studs, is mirror-polished and coupled with satin-brushed titanium, creating a distinctive visual contrast. The movement, Calibre 5135, which has powered the brand’s openworked perpetual calendars since 2019, was first introduced in black ceramic and has since featured in several iterations. This final version showcases the movement’s complexity through a sapphire dial that echoes a vintage pocket watch design exhibited in the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet.
The dial features a deep blue brass inner bezel and blue bathtub-shaped hour and minute hands made of 18-carat white gold, filled with luminescent material. The moon-phase display at 6 o’clock incorporates a photographic representation of the Moon, based on a NASA image, rendered on a sapphire disc. The perpetual calendar function accounts for varying month lengths and leap years, with the movement requiring no manual correction until 2100 if kept fully wound.
Audemars Piguet has integrated subtle anniversary details, including a “150” logo engraved on the caseback frame and an “Audemars Piguet” signature inspired by historical documents within the moon-phase indication. The dial’s numerical and alphabetical indications have been revised for a vintage aesthetic.
The Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar “150th Anniversary” Openworked (ref. 26585XT.OO.1220XT.01) features a case thickness of 9.9 mm and is water-resistant to 20 metres. It includes a titanium bracelet with BMG studs and a three-blade folding clasp. The selfwinding Calibre 5135 offers a 40-hour power reserve, a frequency of 2.75 Hz, and comprises 374 components.
