Only Watch 2017 – The unique blue dial Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Black Ceramic

For its 2017 edition, the biennial Only Watch event has been attracting more and more brands, keen to participate in this charity auction. Absent from the previous two editions, Audemars Piguet makes its return to the long list of manufactures, with a unique piece based on its impressive Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Black Ceramic. Except now, they’ve introduced a touch of color to the previous monochromatic look, as it features a bright blue dial.

The goal of Only Watch is simple: in giving collectors the opportunity to bid on unique pieces from luxury watch manufacturers at auction (this year, Christie’s will be auctioning the watches, on November 11th, 2017) the proceeds go towards funding the research of Duchenne muscular dystrophy – the monies collected will be given to Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies (AMM). While some brands create completely unique pieces (remember the Patek 5016A of 2015), others simply add a unique feature (technical or visual) to existing pieces. So now, what if you could get your hands on a unique perpetual calendar watch by Audemars Piguet? Sounds like quite an interesting opportunity, right?

Having been notable absentees from the 2013 and 2015 editions Audemars Piguet have chosen to mark their comeback to the event in 2017, and to do so they’ve brought out one of their biggest guns. And for their 2017 attendance, they are coming with the big guns. A unique Audemars Piguet? That’s already quite something. Wait, it is a Royal Oak. Ok, now it’s becoming serious. And it’s a Perpetual Calendar..! So, figure that. At Only Watch 2017, you’ll be able to be the proud owner of a one-and-only, specifically designed AP RO QP, and in black ceramic. This won’t be a cheap investment, however it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The Only Watch 2017 Audemars Piguet is based on an already known watch, which was introduced this year, at the SIHH 2017. Recently, AP revamped the perpetual calendar version of the Royal Oak, by giving it a fresher look, and the addition of the week indication. Then, they introduced this black version, crafted in ceramic. It was Audemars’s first watch fully made in ceramic (bracelet included) and it had quite a powerful look – not to mention the overall execution, which was simply astonishing. The standard version is available with a black dial, and for Only Watch 2017, AP has created a unique blue-dial edition, with the traditional hand-guilloche “grande tapisserie” pattern. The sub-counters are contrasting with a polished grey color and it features a orange-tinted photo-realistic moon (also a unique feature).

In addition to the unique dial, the Only Watch unique Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Black Ceramic features a black ceramic caseback with sapphire display back, revealing a unique hand-finished black oscillating mass. The movement is the calibre 5134, an ultra-thin automatic perpetual calendar movement based on the iconic calibre 2120 (found in the original 1972 Royal Oak, and still used in the ref. 15202). The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Black Ceramic for Only Watch 2017 has an estimate of CHF 80,000 – 120,000, which remains close from the retail price of the standard version (CHF 85,000) and will most likely be exceeded.

Only Watch is a biennial fundraiser for research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy –  Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies (AMM). Organized under the patronage of HSH Albert II de Monaco, the 7^th edition gathers a record 48 participants. Only Watch 2017 will be auctioned by Christie’s in Geneva in November 2017. For more information, please visit www.onlywatch.com.

Technical Specifications – Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Black Ceramic

• Case: 41mm x 9.5mm – black ceramic case – glare proof sapphire crystals – 20m water resistant
• Movement: calibre AP5134 – automatic winding – 29.00 mm – 40h power reserve – 19’800 vibrations/h – 38 jewels – hours, minutes, perpetual calendar with indication of the week, day, date, month, moon phase and leap year.
• Bracelet: black ceramic bracelet with titanium folding clasp
• Unique Piece for Only Watch 2017