Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date

Quick specs Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date
Price: on request
Size: 43 mm
Reference: 26650FO.OO.D353CA.01

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date is massive, like a true Royal Oak, but light. As the case middle is from ultra-light forged carbon. It is new and an innovating carbon creation technology, patented by AP and named Chroma Forged Technology (CFT). That is why it’s a “concept”.

It’s not only very light, but also durable, shock resistant and more, and offers the possibility to blend colorful fibers into the carbon composite matrix. Look at the photo of the watch in the dark and you will notice blue glow-in-the-dark fibers that have been integrated into the forged carbon. Carbon is cool, however it is less hard than stainless steel for instance.

Vickers hardness for carbon

The hardness of a material can be measured in HV, meaning Hardness Vickers. For forged carbon it normally ranges between 20 and 50 HV, and Chroma Forged Technology carbon is likely to be similar. Relatively simple 316L stainless steel has a HV of 150 to 200. So, carbon is not extremely hard.

In order to protect the watch, especially the carbon middle case, AP uses ceramic for the bezel, crown, pushers and case back, in black. And titanium for the pusher guards. Also, the rubber strap helps for further protection. And just to be clear, carbon isn’t weak or anything near, it’s just not as hard as stainless steel.

Dial and functions of the Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date

The dial is cut from a single sandblasted nickel silver plate. Then it is finished with black PVD and decorated with diamond-polished rhodium-toned bevels. It is open-worked, with open black sub dials that have a blue flange. The flange of the dial has two parts. An outer part in blue with a tachymeter scale and an inner part in blue that sports a seconds track. This one also has applied white gold hour markers with luminescent material.

At the 12 o’clock position is a big date aperture with the date formed by two separate discs. At 3 o’clock is the GMT function with day/night indication – the small black and white disc on top of the hand. This disc rotates every 24 hours, the hand itself every 12 hours. So, it can indicate the hours in another time zone, to be adjusted in one-hour steps with the pusher in the crown. At 6 o’clock are the small seconds and at 9 is a 30-minute totalizer.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date has a power reserve of 70 hours

The movement of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date is the Audemars Piguet caliber 4407. This automatic was launched in 2023 and offers a mix of high-end complications brought together in one compact caliber. Given the amount of tech.

The split-seconds column-wheel flyback chronograph with vertical clutch is the main attraction of course. It can time two consecutive events, be started and stopped independently and catch up with each other after timing an interval. This chrono also has a zero resetting mechanism so that both chronograph and split-seconds hands instantaneously reset to zero whenever you want.

Finish of the Audemars Piguet caliber 4407

The Audemars Piguet caliber 4407 has an open-worked platinum oscillating weight. In the center is the split-seconds wheel and two actuating clamps, just under the X-shaped bridge holding the mechanism in place. All visible through the sapphire case back.

Furthermore, the movement has a high finish level, with sandblasting, circular satin, circular graining and polished chamfers. The power reserve is 70 hours.

Price of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date

The price of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date is on request. However, the 2023 titanium version of this watch, with ref. 26650TI.OO.D013CA.01, is about 170’000 Swiss francs. Which is about 200,000 US dollars or 180.000 euro’s now.

It makes sense that the estimated price for this model will start at around 200,000 at least. And if you are interested in the Royal Oak, you might also be interested in our article about the first ever Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, the ref. 5402ST from 1972.