Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon 26530ST

About This Watch

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon 26530ST brings one of haute horlogerie's most prestigious complications to the stainless steel Royal Oak for the first time. The flying tourbillon, visible through an aperture at 6 o'clock, rotates once per minute and appears to float unsupported due to the absence of an upper bridge. The caliber 2950 integrates the tourbillon within a case thickness of just 10.4mm, the same as the standard time-only Royal Oak, which is a remarkable feat of engineering. The tourbillon cage is crafted from titanium to minimize weight and rotational inertia, while the blue "Grande Tapisserie" dial around it maintains the Royal Oak's signature aesthetic. A stainless steel flying tourbillon from a manufacturer of AP's caliber at $131,000 represents surprisingly attainable entry into haute horlogerie tourbillon ownership, especially considering competitors charge multiples of this price for similar complications. The watch maintains all the daily-wearable qualities of a standard Royal Oak while adding the mesmerizing visual spectacle of the rotating tourbillon. This reference has proven enormously popular among collectors who want mechanical theater combined with everyday sportiness.