Audemars Piguet pushes the boundaries of the Royal Oak Concept even further with a new interpretation born from the encounter between Haute Horlogerie, fashion, music and contemporary design. The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon Ref. 26643TI.OO.D002CA.01, developed together with Yoon Ahn and Verbal, transforms one of the Maison’s most experimental collections into a meeting point between cultures and diverse creative languages.
Produced in a limited edition of 150 pieces, the new Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon interprets the collection’s futuristic language through an aesthetic that focuses on the essential without sacrificing a strong visual identity. Among the elements that immediately capture attention are the black aventurine dial and the red flying tourbillon, elements that instantly define the timepiece’s visual identity.
Yoon Ahn is known for her essential and refined creative approach, while Verbal, a music producer and cultural entrepreneur, has built connections between different artistic worlds over the years while cultivating a deep passion for watchmaking.
Together they lead AMBUSH, a brand founded in Tokyo initially as an experimental project dedicated to jewellery, later evolving into an international label that combines fashion, street culture, design and contemporary languages through a strong creative identity. The collaboration with Audemars Piguet brings together two worlds united by a desire to go beyond the traditional boundaries of their respective fields.
The shared objective of the project is clear: eliminate the unnecessary to make room for what truly matters, transforming the watch into a representation of energy, movement and personal expression.
A MORE COMPACT AND VERSATILE ROYAL OAK CONCEPT
One of the key elements of the new Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon concerns its proportions. Audemars Piguet encapsulates the architectural identity of the collection in a 38.5 mm titanium case with a thickness of 11.4 mm, dimensions designed to adapt naturally to different wrist sizes while maintaining the collection’s bold character.
The case geometry is enhanced by an alternation of satin-brushed, polished and sandblasted surfaces, creating continuous plays of light that emphasise the technical character of the watch. Reinforcing this identity is also the black ceramic screw-down crown with a titanium cap, a choice that confirms the Maison’s pursuit of lightweight yet highly resistant materials. The watch is further protected by anti-reflective sapphire crystal both on the front and on the caseback, while offering water resistance up to 20 metres.
Yoon herself explains the philosophy behind the project: “Creativity is always in motion: it evolves, regenerates and moves forward. The design of this limited edition had to follow the same energy. For me, it was about balance. I wanted to create something deeply universal, something that anyone could connect with.”
THE RED FLYING TOURBILLON BECOMES THE BEATING HEART OF THE WATCH
The most distinctive feature of the new model is undoubtedly the Flying Tourbillon positioned at 6 o’clock. Its structure has been crafted in aluminium and, for this limited edition, Audemars Piguet introduces an absolute first with a red anodised upper bridge, an element that gives the mechanism a strong chromatic identity.
More than just a technical element, the tourbillon takes on a symbolic role here. Red becomes the centre of the entire composition, the point from which energy takes shape and develops. As with a traditional flying tourbillon, the rotating cage completes a full rotation every minute and, being supported exclusively from below, leaves its operation entirely visible on the dial side, further emphasising the three-dimensional character of the construction.
Powering the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon Ref. 26643TI.OO.D002CA.01 is the Calibre 2982, specifically developed for this collaboration and based on the architecture of the Calibre 2964, the Maison’s manual-winding flying tourbillon movement.
Its construction retains the high-tech architecture of the previous model while introducing an even more essential approach, intentionally removing every distraction to make room for pure mechanics. The movement’s layered architecture offers a close-up view of the openworked barrel, the gears and the flow of energy that drives the watch, transforming mechanical precision and aesthetics into a single visual language. The functions include hours, minutes and flying tourbillon, maintaining a deliberately essential configuration in line with the philosophy of the project.
Verbal describes the meaning behind this element as follows: “Red has always been a powerful colour for us, while the tourbillon cage represents the heart of the watch, the force that keeps everything moving. Red evokes the Earth’s core, the point of origin, the source of energy and, ultimately, the very principle of time measurement.”
Summarising the spirit of the collaboration is Ilaria Resta, CEO of Audemars Piguet: “Audemars Piguet is built on collective energy. Collaborating with Yoon and Verbal offers a new vision of the Royal Oak Concept’s complex architecture. Their focus on the tourbillon and the fundamental elements of the movement brings the mechanics of time to the forefront.”
INTERCHANGEABLE STRAPS AND A NEW INTERPRETATION OF THE ROYAL OAK CONCEPT
For the first time in this size, the Royal Oak Concept introduces an interchangeable strap system, designed to quickly transform the character of the watch. The model is supplied with both a black rubber strap and a red rubber strap, each featuring a micro-mosaic pattern and a new quilted inner structure developed to increase comfort on the wrist. The AP folding clasp is crafted from titanium, while a matching grey version is available upon request.
A PLATFORM THAT CONTINUES TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF HAUTE HORLOGERIE
With the new Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon Ref. 26643TI.OO.D002CA.01, Audemars Piguet reaffirms the role of the collection as a creative laboratory where innovative materials, Haute Horlogerie, contemporary design and different cultures continue to meet.
More than twenty years after the debut of the first Royal Oak Concept, this new interpretation confirms how the collection continues to represent one of the most open and experimental territories within the Audemars Piguet universe.
The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon Ref. 26643TI.OO.D002CA.01 is produced in a limited edition of 150 pieces, while the price is available upon request.
By Jacopo Giudici