Quick Take
There are few watches more classic than the original 1972 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Replica Watches. That slim, stainless steel sport watch’s most direct modern descendent is the so-called “Jumbo” Royal Oak, which has a 39mm case coming in at just 8.1mm thick. The watch you see here shares those dimensions – and looks almost exactly the same at first glance – but is actually crafted from a mix of titanium and platinum. The watch’s case and the large bracelet sections are brushed titanium, while the bezel and smaller bracelet links are polished platinum. The result is a subtle contrast between the tones and finishes of the white metals, creating Swiss Audemars Piguet Watches that offers much more than it first appears to.
Why This Watch Matters
This isn’t the first time Audemars Piguet has used these two metals together. In fact, last year the brand offered up two different watches in the combination, the Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin and the Best Audemars Piguet Replica. I wrote fondly of those back then, and I stand by my assessment. The “two-tone” combo works really well, especially with the blue dial chosen for this latest watch, which appears to have a slightly different effect than that of the standard Jumbo. Creating meaningful variations on a classic without disrupting the qualities that make it special in the first place is difficult, but Audemars Piguet clearly knows what they’re doing.
Initial Thoughts
I’m into this watch. Like, really into this watch. From a distance, it would be possible for it to be mistaken for a completely ordinary Royal Oak, or, at best, a standard steel Jumbo. Strangers would have no idea that you’re actually sporting a rather unusual Luxury Audemars Piguet Watches in a rarely seen combination of utilitarian and precious metals. It’s an everyday watch, but a very special everyday watch.
The Basics
Brand: Audemars Piguet
Model: Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin
Diameter: 39mm
Thickness: 8.1mm
Case Material: Titanium with platinum bezel
Dial Color: Smoke blue dial with Petite Tapisserie pattern
Indexes: Applied white gold markers
Lume: Yes
Water Resistance: 50m
Strap/Bracelet: Titanium bracelet with platinum links
The Movement
Caliber: In-House Caliber 2121
Functions: Hours, minutes, date
Diameter: 28.4mm
Thickness: 3.05mm
Power Reserve: 40 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 2.75 Hz
Jewels: 36