The double balance wheel caliber allows for precise regulation, while beauty is provided by details and materials such as gold, black ceramic, and steel.
Audemars Piguet reaffirms the principle of “two is better than one” with the Royal Oak Double Balance Calibre 3132 Skeleton, a coveted collector’s piece that incorporates two balance wheels for greater chronometric precision and visual delight.
Following the recent launch of the 37mm tone-on-tone gold version, AP presents a trilogy of 41mm models in steel, black ceramic and 18K yellow gold cases, contrasting with the skeletonized architecture of the 3132 caliber.
Presented in 2016, the Royal Oak Double Balance Calibre 3132 Skeleton was an update of the acclaimed 3120 caliber. This skeletonized version offered a privileged view of its interior in all its splendor.
The 2016 model incorporated a double balance wheel escapement, doubling the aesthetic pleasure both on the dial and on the case back.
Designed to increase chronometric performance and stability, the double balance wheel caliber 3120 allows for precise regulation thanks to its 16 inertia blocks (eight per balance wheel).
While AP is not the first brand to explore the double balance wheel configuration, it took a different approach by positioning the two balance wheels and hairsprings on the same axis, connected by a central axis. In this way, not only is the weight evenly distributed to reduce friction and increase mass, but AP’s patented mechanism is also more accessible for regulation.
The 41mm case, with a stylized 9.9mm profile, exhibits the iconic features of the Royal Oak: the octagonal bezel with eight screws and the integrated bracelet. Decorated with vertical satin finishes and mirror-polished bezels, the geometry of the Royal Oak is unmistakable. However, in the case of the ceramic model, the finishes require five times more execution time than their metallic counterparts.
While steel, black gold and yellow gold are not new materials for the case of the 41mm Royal Oak Double Balance Calibre 3132 Skeleton, the contrast between the case and the movement is striking. The steel and black ceramic versions, with their skeletonized dials in rose gold tone, are particularly captivating.
To further accentuate the contrast, the black ceramic and steel models feature rose gold screws that match the color of the movement. The yellow gold model, for its part, enhances the multiple components of the 3132 caliber with an anthracite movement.
The art of skeletonizing has been an AP specialty since the 1930s. By removing as much material as possible from the plate and bridges, light floods the movement from the dial and case back. Using CNC technology, the bridges are cut into elaborate shapes and then decorated with traditional finishes, including polished bezels, linear-ground surfaces, and V-angles that can only be executed by hand.
While the steel and gold models are not limited editions, they will not be easy to come by. The black ceramic edition is limited to 150 pieces.
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