Royal Oak Chronograph

2015 will be a rich year for Italy, full of discoveries.

And it will be even more so for Milan, set to host the Universal Exhibition starting May 1st, where it will become the world's window to the beauty and way of life of the Bel Paese. An occasion not to be missed, Audemars Piguet has seized this opportunity to pay tribute to both Italy and the city of Milan, creating a special limited edition of the Royal Oak Chronograph.

The Italian touch is found in the details, such as the indices on the 30-minute counter; which borrow the iconic green, red and white of the Italian flag. Other special features not to be missed: the caseback bears the engraving “Swiss Made Limited Edition” and the material of the strap – rubber – is truly unique. In fact, in the past, a chronograph Royal Oak – the City of Sails model, created in 2002 – was the only watch to feature this material.

The chronograph is permanently linked to the history of sports watches and holds a privileged position in the range of the Royal Oak collection. The decidedly modern dimensions of the 41 mm stainless steel case conserve all the characteristics that made the Royal Oak a watchmaking legend. Like the 1972 model, this limited edition expresses a subtle play alternating between shiny and satin-finished surfaces, while the octagonal yellow gold bezel features eight hexagonal screws. Water-resistant to 50 meters and equipped with screw-locked crown, the case features a glare-proof sapphire crystal.

The dial is decorated with the Royal Oak collection's classic "Grande Tapisserie" motif. Audemars Piguet crafts this decoration on antique machines according to the arabesque-making technique. This rare manufacturing process, which Audemars Piguet is proud to master and use, allows the cut of the dial and the mesh structure of the inserted slim grooves to be produced simultaneously. The overlay of the two decorations, characteristic of the Royal Oak, lends the dial a unique brilliance.

The watch, available in a limited edition of 500 pieces, will also include a hand-stitched "large square scale" blue alligator strap inside its presentation box. Specially made, the box features a metal plate that reproduces the watch's caseback with the colors of the Italian flag.

Photos and information: image.net