Watch Journal - AP Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon 41mm

Article credit goes to Watchesbysjx original piece

The tourbillon regulator first found its way into the Royal Oak in 1997, with what was then a novel automatic movement with a hammer winding mechanism. Audemars Piguet announced the Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon in 41 mm diameter, a nod to the 1997 original, but with a twist – it’s the first Royal Oak equipped with a flying tourbillon.

Three Special Variants of the Tourbillon

Launching in three variants, the new model is superficially similar to the existing Royal Oak tourbillon – it is very much the octagonal watch – but it is notably different, both in aesthetics and mechanics.

The titanium version stands out, not only because the metal is used sparingly by the brand, but also because the dial has a grained finish instead of the conventional tapisserie guilloche.

A New Movement for the Royal Oak Series

This is the first instance of the cal. 2950 in the Royal Oak. Though the movement isn’t a brand-new calibre, it is relatively new, having been introduced last year in the Code 11.59.

Being an automatic movement, it is an upgrade over the current Royal Oak tourbillon that has a hand-wind movement. More importantly, the cal. 2950 movement has several appealing technical qualities, including a grande sonnerie-style winding click that will appeal to true watch nerds.

The "Flying Tourbillon" Concept

While the tourbillon cage is in AP’s trademark three-armed style, it is a flying tourbillon, unlike most of the brand’s other tourbillon movements. It is “flying” because the carriage is supported only underneath, going without a bridge on the dial. Driven by the last wheel in the gear train, the tourbillon cage rotates while transferring energy to the escapement and balance wheel, which keep time.

Available at Perpetual & Co Watches

This special AP Royal Oak flying tourbillon is joining our inventory. Take a look at our Audemars Piguet Royal Oak collection for sale at Perpetual & Co Watches. Visit the Audemars Piguet watch collectionfor order your new Royal Oak timepiece today.

Tim Coatney
CEO - Perpetual & Co Watches