Audemars Piguet Unveils Three New "Night Blue" Ceramic Watches in Tribute to the Clear Night Skies of the Vallée de Joux
Le Brassus, April 2025 – First appearing on the dial of the first Royal Oak (Ref. 5402) in 1972, this iconic color has inspired countless Audemars Piguet creations. Now, this deep blue hue, inspired by the night skies of the Vallée de Joux and a source of endless creativity for generations of watchmakers, is reimagined in ceramic, imbuing the Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore collections with captivating charm. The development of this new ceramic material, culminating in years of meticulous research and development, ultimately overcame technical challenges to achieve a uniform color across all watch components. These three new timepieces embody Audemars Piguet's pioneering exploration of design and materials, while also paying tribute to the brand's roots in Le Brassus.
Gazing up at the night sky inspires inspiration
Human measurement of time originates from astronomical observation. Curiosity and exploration of astronomical phenomena have always guided watchmakers in their tireless pursuit of precision. For centuries, they have gazed up at the night sky, carefully observing the orbits of the stars and the moon, striving to skillfully recreate the mysteries of celestial motion in their timepieces. Since the 18th century, the clear night skies of the Vallée de Joux have inspired generations of watchmakers, giving rise to some of the world's most intricate and complex timepieces.
Beyond the laws governing the motion of celestial bodies, the luminous hues of the Vallée de Joux night sky have also fueled the imagination and creativity of Audemars Piguet watchmakers. Gérald Genta recreated this deep, captivating blue hue on the dial of the first Royal Oak watch (Ref. 5402) in 1972. At the time, Geneva dial maker Stern added a few drops of black (no. 50) to the protective varnish (called "Zapon") on the dials, creating the "Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50" hue. The name "Nuage" derives from the hazy, misty effect, believed to be the result of a chemical reaction caused by a small amount of black droplets mixed with the liquid varnish.
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Reproducing this night sky-like blue hue requires a highly complex process, as the dial's hue changes depending on the duration and temperature of its immersion in the electroplating bath. Today, "Nuage Blue" dials are produced using a PVD (physical vapor deposition) process, ensuring a consistent color. Whether due to the complex process or the excitement generated by the first Royal Oak, the "Nuage Blue" hue and this watch have become timeless classics.
"The clear night skies of the Vallée de Joux have left a profound mark on Audemars Piguet's watchmaking history, inspiring the creation of 'Night Blue,' a hue that has become one of the brand's signature elements. The introduction of this new ceramic material is not only a tribute to the Vallée de Joux and its skilled artisans, but also a celebration of the brand's relentless pursuit of innovation." Ilaria Resta, Global CEO of Audemars Piguet.
A new ceramic material blends traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology.
The introduction of 'Night Blue' ceramic, joining Audemars Piguet's existing black, electric blue, green, and brown ceramics, further strengthens the brand's rich tradition of exploring new materials and designs.
Ceramic has been used in Audemars Piguet timepieces since 1985. While lightweight and scratch-resistant, its extreme hardness makes it extremely difficult to work with. Ceramic is one of the oldest materials in human history, with its use dating back to the Neolithic Age, primarily for practical pottery. Over time, its uses have evolved significantly, evolving into artistic and decorative uses and becoming more durable. Across cultures, this material has taken on a rich variety of forms: known as porcelain in China, pottery in Italy and France, and polychrome glazed pottery in traditional Islamic culture. The Industrial Revolution ushered in a new era of ceramic applications, enabling large-scale production. Continuous research and development has endowed ceramic with groundbreaking innovative properties, expanding its applications to diverse fields such as architecture, aerospace, electronics, healthcare, communications, and even robotics, including watchmaking.
Translating the "Night Blue" hue into ceramic required years of meticulous research and development to ensure a harmonious and unified color throughout the watch, perfectly recreating this legendary hue. Each component of the watch undergoes a multi-step process, from machining and sintering to finishing, each meticulously crafted. The final stage is meticulously executed by Audemars Piguet's artisans, applying their unparalleled skills to imbue even the hard and fragile ceramic with a refined finish comparable to precious metals. The ceramic's alternating polished and satin-brushed surfaces enhance its depth and create a play of light and shadow, highlighting the architectural beauty of the multifaceted casework of the Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore collections. This unique material is crafted through a fusion of high-tech precision machining and traditional hand-finishing techniques, drawing upon the rich tapestry of modern watchmaking expertise.
Three New "Night Blue" Timepieces
The new 41mm Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Skeleton watch is crafted entirely from "Night Blue" ceramic. This pure, monochromatic aesthetic highlights the rhodium-toned skeletonized movement, flush with the dial beneath the sapphire crystal. Details such as rose gold hands and hour markers create a striking visual contrast. The watch is powered by the Calibre 3132 automatic movement, featuring Audemars Piguet's patented double-balance mechanism, patented in 2016. Two balance wheels and hairsprings are fixed to the same axis, oscillating at the same frequency, ensuring greater precision and stability. The double-balance mechanism can be viewed from both sides of the watch, revealing the previously hidden inner workings. The skeletonized bridges reveal some components of the gear train. This new watch blends cutting-edge technologies like Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining with traditional handcrafts like polished V-shaped chamfers, vividly embodying Audemars Piguet's spirit of continuous advancement in watchmaking.
The new 42mm Royal Oak Offshore Automatic Chronograph showcases a sportier, monochrome aesthetic. From the ceramic components to the inner bezel, and even the "Méga Tapisserie" dial and chronograph sub-dials, all feature a "Night Blue" hue. This deep, hued tone creates a subtle contrast with the eight stainless steel hexagonal screws that run through the bezel, as well as the titanium crown plaque and caseback. 18K white gold luminescent hands and hour markers enhance readability, echoing the white gold "AP" logo, which stands out against the dial's checkered pattern. The chronograph indicators, tachymeter scale, and date display are all rendered in white, standing out against the blue background. The chronograph subdials maintain the collection's signature vertical symmetry, with hour and minute counters and small seconds located at 12, 9, and 6 o'clock. This new model also debuts a new ceramic bracelet, featuring pins that connect the links and secure them directly within the bracelet, creating an elegant, sleek aesthetic. The watch is powered by the integrated automatic chronograph movement, Caliber 4404, equipped with a column wheel mechanism and a flyback chronograph function, allowing the chronograph to be instantly restarted without having to stop or reset it. The sapphire crystal caseback reveals the exquisite finishing details of the movement, along with the collection's exclusive rose gold oscillating weight and the inner workings of the column wheel, showcasing a remarkable fusion of refined aesthetics and exceptional watchmaking expertise.
The new 43mm Royal Oak Offshore Automatic Chronograph features a two-tone design. The stainless steel case creates a striking contrast with the "Night Blue" ceramic bezel, pushers, and crown, a contrasting effect that extends to the dial. The "Mega Tapisserie" dial, with its deep "Night Blue" hue, accentuates the watch's sturdy silhouette and highlights the gleaming 18K white gold hands and hour markers. The dial also features meticulously printed white chronograph and tachymeter scales for exceptional legibility. Powered by Calibre 4401, the new watch features a minute counter, hour counter, and small seconds counter at 9, 3, and 6 o'clock, respectively, all rendered in a light blue hue, creating a subtle contrast and enhancing legibility. The 12 o'clock position is accented by the white gold "AP" logo. The sapphire crystal caseback reveals the exquisite finishing of the flyback chronograph movement and the 22K rose gold and rhodium-finished oscillating weight. The watch is presented on a textured calfskin strap that echoes the "Night Blue" ceramic hue. The strap features a self-interchangeable strap system and comes with a blue rubber strap, further enhancing the collection's sporty character.
Audemars Piguet's new "Night Blue" ceramic material embodies the interweaving of tradition and the future, paying tribute to the skilled craftsmen who have shaped the brand's extraordinary history and paying tribute to the Vallée de Joux, a region that has witnessed the brand's 150-year watchmaking journey.
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