The Perpetual Calendar is strongly embedded into the DNA of Audemars Piguet’s origins and for 2017, the company will be introducing a stunning full black version, made of hand-finished black ceramic. Apart from being able to withstand high temperatures and thermal shocks, black ceramic is virtually unscratchable. The very qualities that make this material so tough and durable also make it an extremely difficult material to work with. For example, while it takes six hours to machine, polish, hand-finish, assemble and control a stainless steel Royal Oak bracelet, the same process for a black ceramic bracelet takes thirty hours – five times more.
Although it is described as a full black, the wristwatch actually employs a “Grande Tapisserie dial finished in slate grey with black counters. A photo realistic astronomical moon provides added contrast against the black components of the piece.
Day, date, month, astronomical moon, week of the year displayed on the dial’s outer chapter ring and the essential leap year indication hold pride of place on the dial. Housed in a 41 mm case, the self-winding watch’s uses the larger calibre 5134, visible through the glare-proof sapphire crystal caseback.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
MOVEMENT
Selfwinding Calibre 5134
Total diameter 29 mm (12 3/4 lignes)
Total thickness 4.31mm
Number of jewels 38
Number of parts 374
Minimal guaranteed power reserve 40h
Frequency of balance wheel (Hz) 2.75 (=19,800 vibrations /h)
CASE
Black ceramic case, glare-proof sapphire crystal and caseback, water-resistant to 20 m.
DIAL
Slate grey dial with “Grande Tapisserie” pattern, black counters, white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, black inner bezel.
BRACELET
Black ceramic bracelet with titanium AP folding clasp.
FUNCTIONS
Perpetual calendar with week indication, day, date, astronomical moon,
month, leap year, hours and minutes.
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