A Royal Oak Concept comes in an innovative material.

Audemars Piguet has released the latest addition to its lineup &ndash; the Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date with 43mm case. This new model debuts a cutting-edge coloured forged carbon, crafted with Audemars Piguet's innovative Chroma Forged Technology (CFT). This mysterious deep black material, accented with subtle pops of colour, not only offers a striking new aesthetic but also delivers superior durability.
For the past fifty years, Audemars Piguet has often led the Swiss watch industry in its experimentations with a wide array of materials&mdash;from titanium and plastics to ceramics, wood, and rubber. Carbon, first adapted from the automotive world in 1998, actually marked a significant advancement in watchmaking. Audemars Piguet first harnessed the material great effect in 2004, using it to craft the bezel of the Royal Oak Offshore Juan Pablo Montoya (26030RO).
Now, forged carbon returns to Audemars Piguet after an eight-year break with the case of this new watch. Developed over five years, the innovative CFT carbon combines lightness with resistance to shocks, heat, and humidity, and is protected by a patent. Unlike earlier versions, Audemars Piguet&rsquo;s Chroma Forged Technology (CFT) allows carbon fibres, not the resin, to be coloured and arranged, offering greater creative freedom. Its reduced resin content also increases scratch resistance. The manufacturing process involves layering pigmented carbon fibres by hand, compressing, and curing them in an autoclave. This creates a solid carbon block, machined into unique case middles, blending cutting-edge technology with the craftsmanship of Le Brassus artisans.
&ldquo;Audemars Piguet was the first brand to introduce forged carbon to watchmaking in 2007. After five years of research and development, we are proud to present a brand-new generation of forged carbon, which can be coloured while retaining its excellent mechanical properties,&rdquo; said Lucas Raggi, R&amp;D Director of Audemars Piguet.

The dial is an engineering marvel. Designed like a bridge of a movement, it enticingly reveals the intricate inner workings of the movement through precision-machined circular apertures cut into a sandblasted nickel silver plate. Finished with black PVD and diamond-polished rhodium bevels, the two-tone design creates an eye-catching play of light and shadow, with no logo cluttering its bold presence. The matching electric blue inner bezel and counter zones stand in sharp contrast to the grey and black tones bringing a sleek and forward-thinking look. Moreover, white gold hour markers and hands, filled with luminescent material, glow bright blue in low light, adding a touch of futuristic flair to this high-tech timepiece. Additionally, the tachymetre scale and counters feature crisp white gradations forg perfect readability. Completing the look, the watch is mounted on a blue rubber strap with black accents for a sporty yet sophisticated edge.
Inside, the Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date is powered by the automatic in-house Calibre 4407, a marvel of mechanical engineering that combines a flyback chronograph, split-seconds, GMT, and a large date display. First seen in 2023 and based on the Calibre 4401 from 2019&rsquo;s Code 11.59 collection, this movement offers complexity while maintaining ease of use. The flyback chronograph has a patented zero-reset mechanism that ensures precise synchronization. Furthermore, the split-seconds function measures intermediate times with a dedicated pusher at 9 o&rsquo;clock, a nod to the 2015 Royal Oak Concept Laptimer. To maintain a sleek profile, the split-seconds mechanism is integrated within the rotor&rsquo;s ball bearing. Finally, the GMT function displays day and night at 3 o&rsquo;clock, with a colour-coded disc for easy reading. A large date at 12 o&rsquo;clock provides a thematic digital aesthetic, balancing the small seconds at 6 o&rsquo;clock.

&ldquo;This new CFT carbon is testament to our teams&rsquo; expertise and to the endless quest for innovation that has driven Audemars Piguet since its inception in 1875. It also opens up new creative horizons, promising many surprises for Haute Horlogerie enthusiasts in the years to come,&rdquo; states Ilaria Resta, CEO of Audemars Piguet.

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