“What a beauty!” That’s the first thing I thought when I held the Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked watch in my hands. The 2016 released 3132 caliber is at the heart of this master piece which makes the watch to one of my favorite Audemars Piguet (AP) pieces. Just the feeling of such a massive watch on your wrist is tough to describe.
The watch is based on the Royal Oak 41mm frame and comes with the famous AP metal (gold or silver) bracelet which we’ve already seen in previous models. The 3132 caliber, which was first added to the Openworked Royal Oak in 2016, has a 45 hour power reserve operating at a frequency of 3Hz. The double balance wheel system, also called dual-balance, improves precision and stability.
Fun fact here: if you can see the inner workings of a watch, most watch producers would use the name “Skeleton” whereas Audemars Piguet calls theirs “Openworked”.
The watch is available in 18k pink gold and steel, although both versions have a 18k pink gold balance bridge and hands. Often, it’s the small details that make a watch so beautiful, aren’t they?
The combination of the classiness of AP with its traditional 41mm frame and the new designed caliber makes the watch a real eye-catcher and one worth collecting. The official retail price on AP’s website is CHF 44,330 for the steel version and CHF 77,200 for the pink gold version.
It might not be the newest AP watch and it also isn’t the first Openworked Royal Oak, but it is definitely one that’s worth reading about. In my opinion, it’s the most beautiful “Skeleton” AP.
Summary
Brand:
Audemars Piguet
Model:
Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked
Retail price:
CHF 44,300 (Steel) / CHF 77,200 (Pink Gold)
Market price:
currently around CHF 75’000 (steel) / CHF 80’000 (Pink gold)
Measurements:
41mm wide, 10mm depth
When to wear:
Depending on the color (gold more than steel), I would recommend wearing the watch when you want to make a statement. One, in the sense of “I made it and I am proud it”. Alternatively, the watch complements a nice suit (but without tie, since you want to lead people’s attention to your wrist).
What we love about the watch:
The combination of the traditional 41mm case of the Royal Oak with the new movement on a Skeleton basis. The caliber looks playful with its pink gold hands and bridge. It is a piece of art on your wrist and watch lovers would recognize it immediately without mistaking it for any other piece.
Image: „The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked Reference 15407“ by hodinkee, https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-audemars-piguet-royal-oak-openworked-double-balance-wheel