Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 “150th Anniversary” / 39 mm
Audemars Piguet Unveils the Final Watch of Its RD Series: The Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5
The most technically advanced “Jumbo” ever (and final piece of the RD series), this just-unveiled piece features ultra-sensitive, smartphone-like chronograph pushers, a rare jump-minute counter alongside an hour counter, and the first flyback chrono and flying tourbillon combo in the Royal Oak collection.
By Henri Lee
Contributor
Since 2015, the Research and Development (RD) Series from Audemars Piguet has showcased groundbreaking advancements in watchmaking, combining technical innovation with intriguing design. Four breathtaking models have been introduced so far: RD#1, RD#2, RD#3, and RD#4. These are not one-off demonstration pieces, but watches placed directly into the brand’s production catalog.
This year, celebrating Audemars Piguet’s 150th anniversary, the RD Series introduces its latest (and last) member: the Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5, Ref. 26545XT.OO.1240XT.01, which will be produced in a limited edition of 150 pieces.
In simpler terms, this new model channels the technicity of the RD#4 by combining the flying tourbillon of the RD#3 with a flyback chronograph, which is the first time a Royal Oak model has included both of these complications. Yet, the RD#5 retains the same remarkable ultra-thin case.
It is the most complex “Jumbo” ever made, a watch that pushes the limits of horology while honoring 150 years of savoir-faire. So let’s take a look.
The End of an Era; The Beginning of a New Chapter
While this stunning last chapter of Audemars Piguet’s RD Series carries its own newsworthiness (which we will get back to in a moment), it also represents the start of a bold new phase of the watchmaker’s development efforts.
According to CEO Ilaria Resta: “We want to call the new journey FabLab, for Fabrication Laboratory. You will see a multifaceted innovation focusing on materials, an important factor in our innovation plans.”
Resta goes on to add: “At the end of the day, we are involved in manufacturing, right? So, we’re very happy to close on a high with the anniversary RD journey, and begin a new one.”
If the upcoming FabLab story carries the gravitas and success of the RD story, we can all expect some special things from the Le Brassus-based watchmaker.
The Iconic “Jumbo” Design
The Royal Oak dynasty began in 1972 with the launch of the Ref. 5402, a design with a steel case and bracelet created by the legendary Gérald Genta. Just two years earlier, the Boeing 747 “Jumbo Jet” had completed its first commercial flight from New York to London.
With its 39mm case, the 5402 appeared oversized compared to the wristwatches of its time, earning the nickname “Jumbo” in the watch world. Today, the standard bearer for this lineage is the Royal Oak Ref. 16202ST, which was launched in 2022 with two hands and a date.
The Royal Oak RD#5 keeps the same 39mm by 8.1mm case dimensions as the latest “Jumbo,” the Ref. 16202ST; however, the new RD#5 introduces to the collection, for the first time, a flying tourbillon paired with a flyback chronograph.
The rotating tourbillon, with its oscillating balance wheel, creates a mesmerizing sight as if it floats by itself. Unlike a conventional tourbillon supported by bridges on both top and bottom, a flying tourbillon offers an unobstructed view.
The dial features the Royal Oak collection’s signature Petite Tapisserie pattern in the distinctive blue named “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50,” with rhodium-toned gold hour markers and luminescent hands in 18-karat white gold. The chronograph counters at 3 and 9 o’clock, finished in the same blue, remain crisp and highly legible.
Thin Chronograph Breakthrough
We can hear you now, “Thin chronograph breakthrough? It has the same 8.1mm thickness as the 16202ST; how is that a breakthrough?” Well, dear friends, the only complication in the 16202ST is a date window, and as we’ve said several times now, the new RD#5 includes both a flying tourbillon and a flyback chronograph. So, for the RD#5’s case to not be thicker than a much simpler model is a significant engineering feat that shouldn’t be overlooked.
This is made possible due to the new Caliber 8100, which has the compact dimensions of only 31.4mm by 4.0mm. In the simplest terms: With the new Caliber 8100, Audemars Piguet reimagined key elements of the modern chronograph, creating a new energy management architecture that ensures both precision and ergonomic operation.
Central to the innovation is a patented rack-and-pinion mechanism that replaces the traditional heart piece and hammer. By storing energy rather than dissipating it, efficiency is greatly improved and, once combined with other ingenious tricks, results in a chronograph minute hand that resets in less than 0.15 seconds – an instantaneous jump that is almost imperceptible to the eye.
As AP’s Chief Industrial Officer, Lucas Raggi, summed up in a press release for this groundbreaking piece: “With [the Caliber 8100], Audemars Piguet has reinterpreted the chronograph to enhance its ease of use. The RD#5 can store energy when the chronograph is activated and release it upon reset – enabling, for the first time, short-travel, low-force push-pieces for enhanced smoothness and unmatched comfort.” (But more on those push-pieces in a moment.)
The Caliber 8100 also features a platinum peripheral rotor, which reduces movement thickness while leaving the refined finishing fully visible. The 3Hz, 397-component movement provides a minimum power reserve of 72 hours.
Light Touch Push-pieces
Another significant milestone of the RD#5 is the extraordinary sensitivity of its chronograph pushers.
While most modern chronographs require a push distance of 1mm or more and 1.5 kilograms of force, the RD#5 operates with only 0.3mm and 300 grams of force. The result is a push sensation closer to pushing the button on the side of your smartphone that wakes up (or puts to sleep) its screen, a benchmark that Audemars Piguet’s engineers set out to achieve.
This might not seem like a big deal, but we assure you it is. As Raggi explained in the release, “To achieve a sensation comparable to tapping a smartphone, we had to completely rethink how a chronograph functions.”
Why do this? As Sébastian Vivas, Director of the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet, explained at a recent press event for the RD#5, “We have been inspired by the smartphone’s push-piece. We tried to get as close as we could to modernity with an anachronistic object like the mechanical watch.”
The same technology even extends to a push-piece integrated into the crown, which allows effortless switching between time-setting (indicated by a thin red band around the crown’s pusher when activated) and winding modes.
Final Thoughts
The Royal Oak Selfwinding flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 is slim in profile yet “Jumbo” in technical ambition. As the first Royal Oak to unite these two complications in such an extra-thin case, it adds a new chapter to the legend of this iconic model line while closing the book on the revolutionary RD series.
For more details, including pricing information, visit the Audemars Piguet website.