This is Audemars Piguet’s most important release at this year’s SIHH — the Royal Oak Concept Acoustic Research, whose biggest highlight is its newly developed minute repeater system, the result of eight years of research. AP describes it as the “loudest and most beautiful-sounding” minute repeater they have ever created.
Developed jointly by AP and EPFL Lausanne, the new repeater system draws inspiration from the acoustic principles of stringed instruments. It significantly enhances both the volume and quality of the chimes, and even with added water-resistance (20 meters), it can still deliver a sound “that can be shared with people around you.”
The watch uses a 44mm titanium case and bezel. The dial features a 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock and a tourbillon at 6 o’clock, with a 48-hour power reserve.
During the SIHH presentation, the final caseback design had not yet been confirmed, but we were able to listen to the striking mechanism in person — and the chimes were clearly audible from up to 10 meters away indoors.
