The Audemars Piguet Extra-Thin 'Jumbo' Royal Oak Reference 15202 Watch Review

The Audemars Piguet Extra-Thin 'Jumbo' Royal Oak Reference 15202 Watch Review

The Audemars Piguet Extra-Thin 'Jumbo' Royal Oak Reference 15202 Watch Review

Only at that year's SIHH, Audemars Piguet 

Released numerous impressive pieces such as the Gemstone Outrage, Frosted Gold Royal Oak, the black ceramic Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, and a few updates towards the Offshore. However the watch that appeared to achieve the many people excited was the re-publication of the classic Royal Oak Extra-Thin "Jumbo" in gold. The final time we had this watch in gold is at rose gold in 2012, if this was launched plus the steel ref. 15202. This season AP made the decision to recover the classic solid gold Jumbo with equally awesome blue and gold dials, with the automated caliber 2121 movement inside. This really is modern-vintage AP at its best.

The Audemars Piguet Extra-Thin 'Jumbo' Royal Oak Reference 15202 Watch Review

So how can this be "new" release relevant and so why do we love them? Since it is among the most legendary watches ever (and that i mean legendary) and contains been 5 years since there's been a brand new release utilizing the same situation because the original 1972 reference 5402 Royal Oak, twenty five years since we view a gold form of the Jumbo, and 4 decades since we view a gold Jumbo using the AP emblem at six o'clock. Yeah, this really is major.

The Royal Oak was created through 

The not-yet-famous watch designer Gerald Genta in 1971 and it was released towards the public in 1972 at Baselworld. The Royal Oak was groundbreaking for Audemars Piguet at that time, because it was the brand's first sports-luxury watch and also the design itself was quite avant garde. The name "Royal Oak" originated from a historic tree in England where King Charles II hid from Cromwell’s army in 1651. That tree wound up saving King Charles’s existence and grew to become a historic political British symbol. The name was put on no less than four British naval ships between 1769 and 1914, that is in which the watch is necessary. The octagonal in shape bezel was inspired through the porthole of the naval ship, and so the name Royal Oak. Furthermore, Audemars Piguet loved the name due to its "royal prestige and durability."

The debut reference 5402 is at production from 1972 until 4 decades ago (the precise final date is unknown) and it was created in four series, A-D, each with slight small changes towards the clasp and/or technological advancements towards the movement. The 5402 was initially obtainable in steel and measured 39mm across and 7mm thick. The slate gray tapisserie dial featured the "AP" emblem at six o’clock. The initial cost was 3,650 CHF, which in those days was crazy costly for any steel watch. The 5402 was operated by the AP caliber 2121 that was really created by Jaeger-LeCoultre (JLC calls it the caliber 920 movement). This movement seemed to be utilized by Vacheron Constantin within the Overseas and also the no-date version, the 2120, was utilized by Patek Philippe within the original Nautilus. The look legal rights were offered by JLC to AP in early 2000s and also the caliber 2121 has become solely created in-house by AP. It had been but still may be the thinnest full-rotor self-winding movement on the planet. The very first gold 5402BA was launched in 1977 and ended production round the early 1980s (there's no hard cut-off date with this model either). It soon grew to become a cult classic and it is still highly collectible today.

Among 4 decades ago now, Audemars Piguet has created several versions from the Royal Oak and also the Royal Oak Offshore, but none of them which were ever as thin or simple because the original 5402. Which was until 1992, when AP released the reference 14802 with azure very caseback inside a limited number of 1,000 pieces total, for that Jumbo ref. 5402's 20th anniversary. There have been 700 in steel (with blue or pink tapisserie dial), 280 in gold (with ardoise, gilt, white-colored, or ivory tapisserie dials), and 20 in platinum (with fast or Toscana blue tapisserie dials, the previous with gemstone indexes). The 1992 anniversary ref. 14802 was offered completely up to year 2000. Then, 12 years later this year for that Royal Oak's 40th anniversary, the 15202 was launched in steel and rose gold, with similar ultra-thin situation proportions (39mm across x 7mm thick), same caliber 2121 movement, and AP emblem back at six o'clock. This isn't to be mistaken with the AP Royal Oak reference 15400 which was also released this year. The 15400 measures 41mm across, is slightly thicker, and uses AP's caliber 3120 movement having a center seconds hands. It had been naturally an enormous hit and grew to become highly searched for after. Which raises today.

So, we've finally showed up in the the brand new Royal Oak Extra-Thin reference 15202 in gold. So what exactly is different relating to this watch in the 15202 released this year? Very little, that is precisely why I love it.

Probably the most striking difference is always that this can be a gold 15202 and never steel or rose gold as seen 5 years ago. The situation measures the standard (and comfy) 39mm that everyone knows and love. The thickness from the situation is 8.1mm because of the inclusion of the azure very. This enables for simple putting on, and that i still firmly believe this might create a great everyday watch.

The bracelet is identical multi-link construction 

Which was initially produced by Gay Frères in 1972, except it is slightly heavier and for that reason sturdier. It's still superbly crafted, with incredibly detailed beveling and finishing on every little link, and far like my personal favorite Rolex bracelets (Oyster and President), they fit wonderful.

The greatest news with this particular watch though may be the mixture of the gold situation using the gold and blue tapisserie dials. These dials are unique towards the Royal Oak, and if you do not understand how they're made, you need to watch this. It's crazy. As the gold dial continues to be seen before, there has not been a gold Jumbo having a blue dial. Furthermore, this is actually the very first time because the original 5402BA that the gold Jumbo has hit the industry using the AP emblem at six o’clock. And just how will it look? Beautiful.