Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Royal Oak Self-Winding Flying Tourbillon Openworked White Ceramic / Blue

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked 26735CB.OO.1225CB.98 debuted in 2025 as a limited-production model derived from a design initially conceived as a unique piece for the Only Watch charity auction. Although that unique example was ultimately withdrawn, the concept later entered small-scale production following sustained interest from collectors. The reference forms part of Audemars Piguet’s longer lineage of self-winding tourbillon wristwatches, a lineage that began in 1986 with the introduction of the world’s first automatic tourbillon wristwatch and continued within the Royal Oak collection through successive tourbillon and openworked executions introduced from the 1990s onward, reaching a more established openworked Royal Oak tourbillon architecture from 2012. The watch is housed in a 41 mm white ceramic case with a thickness of approximately 10.6 mm and a water-resistance rating of 50 meters. The case, bezel, crown, and integrated bracelet are all manufactured from white ceramic. The octagonal bezel is secured by exposed hexagonal screws, consistent with the Royal Oak design language. The full-ceramic construction reflects Audemars Piguet’s continued development of ceramic as a core material for high-complication Royal Oak references introduced during the 2020s. The openworked dial exposes the movement architecture, with skeletonised bridges and mainplate finished in contrasting blue tones. Applied hour markers and Royal Oak hands are crafted from white gold and filled with luminous material. The flying tourbillon is positioned at 6 o’clock and mounted without an upper bridge, allowing an unobstructed view of the rotating cage. Time is displayed via central hours and minutes. Powering the watch is the Audemars Piguet manufacture calibre 2972, an automatic movement developed specifically for openworked Royal Oak flying tourbillon models. The movement operates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz) and provides a power reserve of approximately 65 hours. It incorporates a flying tourbillon regulator and features a fully skeletonised construction. Finishing includes satin-brushed surfaces, hand-polished bevels, internal angles, and contrasting surface treatments applied throughout the movement. Production of this reference is limited to 50 pieces, as indicated by the caseback markings.