The Royal Oak Mini Returns

Swiss luxury watchmaker cheap Audemars Piguet is pleased to introduce a new Royal Oak Micro Quartz, measuring just 23mm in diameter and available in 18K yellow, white or rose gold

These miniature monochrome watches combine the strong aesthetic of the original Royal Oak with the shimmering brilliance of frosted gold to create a striking visual statement. Inspired by the Manufacture’s rich history of miniature and jewellery watches, the three petite watches are a modern interpretation of the 20mm Mini Royal Oak launched in 1997. By rethinking the proportions, structure, design and performance of the smallest Royal Oak ever, the new “Mini Oak” collection builds on the Manufacture’s heritage to accommodate the slimmest of wrists, while featuring quartz movements and over seven years of battery life to suit modern lifestyles.

A refined ‘frosted’ jewellery aesthetic

Blending the line between jewellery and watchmaking, the Royal Oak Mini watch, crafted in 18K yellow, rose or white gold, incorporates the powerful aesthetic of the original Royal Oak watch designed by Gérald Genta in 1972, creating a unique, shimmering monochrome aesthetic with a delicate and sophisticated frosted gold.

The frosted gold finish is inspired by an ancient Florentine jewellery technique, which was reinterpreted in 2016 by jewellery designer Carolina Bucci and refined by Audemars Piguet artisans to decorate timepieces at the Manufacture. Using diamond tools, the artisans press tiny indentations into the gold surface, creating a shimmering effect similar to precious gemstones. The visual impact of this decoration highlights the Royal Oak’s close relationship with the world of jewellery. Created in 1972 by jeweller Gérald Genta, the Royal Oak’s case and bracelet are faceted, with light and shadow playing like diamond facets. The refined integrated bracelet is also reminiscent of the fine metal bracelets that have adorned ladies’ watches since the 19th century.

“These miniature pieces pay homage not only to Audemars Piguet’s long tradition in miniature and jewellery watches, but also to the women who have left their mark on the brand’s history, including Jacqueline Dimier, who created the brand’s first women’s Royal Oak, and Carolina Bucci, the mastermind behind the frosted gold finish. Ilaria Resta, CEO of Audemars Piguet.

The charm of light and shadow

Complementing the jewellery design of the Royal Oak, the new Mini Oak watches contrast the diamond dust effect of frosted gold with polished bevels that outline the instantly recognisable octagonal bezel and the individual links of the tapering bracelet, creating endless light and shadow plays. Satin finishing on the sides of the case and bracelet adds depth, texture and light. The solid caseback combines sandblasting, satin-brushing and polishing to echo the design of the case. This meticulous juxtaposition of finishing techniques requires perfect alignment at all times. fashion luxury watches

The jewellery beauty of these exquisite pieces continues on the dial. The same colour Petite The Tapisserie plaid decoration enhances the light effect created by the cream and the bracelet. Omitting, improving the refined sense of readability and twistcuff dials. These watches are real jewelry works, which will be equipped with bracelet -like elegant wrists. In addition, Calibre 2730 is also equipped with a “switch”: as long as you pull the crown, the wearer can stop the battery indefinitely. Audemars Piguet created a series of small watches for women, providing the brand with a platform to push the boundaries of miniaturization, gem-setting and aesthetic refinement. From timeless classics and jewelry pieces to avant-garde artistic creations, these timepieces reflected the technical and aesthetic challenges of their respective eras, often foreshadowing the changing tastes and expectations of their female clients.

Audemars Piguet’s first women’s watches featured extremely sophisticated and complex mechanisms housed in elegant yet understated pendant, brooch or ring watches, often adorned with enamel cases set with precious gemstones. These smaller models became a platform for innovation, pushing Audemars Piguet’s artisans to explore new frontiers of miniaturization and creativity.

In the early 20th century, the brand developed a number of micro movements, including the world’s smallest five-minute repeater movement, Calibre 7MV5 (15.8 mm/7 lignes) (1921) and the brand’s smallest rectangular movement, Calibre 5/6SB (15.9 x 5.8 x 3.3 mm) (launched in 1927). These feats of miniaturization led to new styles such as bracelet, wrist and pendant watches for both men and women. luxury watches for sale

Miniaturization reached another turning point in 1972 with the launch of the groundbreaking Royal Oak designed by Gérald Genta. Jacqueline Dimier, head of the design office from 1975 to 1999, was commissioned to design a women’s version, resulting in the Royal Oak II in 1976. Powered by the small self-winding Calibre 2062, it retained all the features of the original (5402) but was significantly scaled down to fit smaller wrists. At 29 mm, the 8638 and its diamond-set 8756 derivative remain the smallest self-winding Royal Oaks ever made.

In the 1980s, the introduction of quartz movements and their miniaturization opened up new horizons for high-performance miniature watches, as the efficiency of self-winding mechanisms dropped significantly below a 29 mm diameter. In 1980, the Manufacture launched the 26 mm Royal Oak Quartz, followed in 1986 by a 24.5 mm version equipped with the 2508 calibre. This quartz movement was thinner than its predecessor (1.6 mm vs. 1.98 mm), allowing the diameter of the ladies’ Royal Oak to be reduced by 1.5 mm. In 1997, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Royal Oak, the Royal Oak’s miniaturisation reached its peak. To mark the occasion, the Manufacture launched the Mini Royal Oak (Ref. 67075), with a diameter of just 20 mm, and the first Royal Oak Grande Complication (Ref. 25865), with a case measuring a whopping 44 mm. The simultaneous launch of both watches embodied both the extreme contrasts of the 1990s and the brand’s immense creativity.

The Mini Oak watch is equipped with the 2601 quartz movement developed by Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1982, which was not only the thinnest quartz movement at the time, but also one of the smallest quartz movements in the world. In 1997, a total of 1,254 pieces of this miniature watch were sold, including 465 steel models, 328 gold models, 272 two-color models, 101 white gold models, and 88 rose gold models. In the same year, two gem-set models were also launched, 67076 and 67202, with 549 and 13 pieces produced respectively. In just three years, 26 watches were launched and 1,965 pieces were recorded, all presenting various creative designs, reinterpreted from high-end jewelry styles to rings, pendants and cufflinks.

Inspired by the revolutionary Mini Oak model launched at the beginning of the new millennium, the latest Royal Oak Mini Frosted Quartz perfectly combines tradition and modernity with a powerful design that is sure to attract attention with its charm and use of light. swiss men watch

“Small, charming, creative, almost frivolous, the new Royal Oak Mini watches recreate the feminine myth born in 1997. They demonstrate the extraordinary plasticity of the Royal Oak collection, transcending time, gender, trends and dimensions.” Sébastien Vivas, Director of Heritage and Museums at Audemars Piguet.