Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet has unveiled a brand new iteration of the iconic Royal Oak “Jumbo” that features thoroughly modern materials in its construction along with a striking red gradient dial. Behold the Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Titanium BMG ref. 16202XT, an absolutely stunning new rendition of a horological icon. While its novel dial and case materials set it apart from the rest of the versions in the line-up, the new Royal Oak reference is pretty much similar to the ref. 16202 Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin from the brand’s current collection. What that means is the octagonal case of the timepiece measures 39mm in diameter by 8.1mm in thickness. Furthermore, it gets sapphire crystals on both ends along with the Royal Oak’s signature integrated bracelet.
What distinguishes the newest iteration from the rest of the collection is that it combines titanium and Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG). While titanium is a commonly used material in the world of high-end watchmaking, the use of BMG is very rare. Also known as amorphous metal, the alloy is characterized by a non-crystalline structure of atoms, which is similar to glass. Audemars Piguet co-developed a unique palladium-based version which is said to be specifically engineered to be highly resistant to wear and corrosion. Additionally, it offers a more lustrous appearance. In the new timepiece, the middle case and primary bracelet links are made out of titanium, while the bezel, caseback, and center links of the bracelet are all crafted from BMG.
It should be noted that Audemars Piguet has previously used the same combination of materials for the one-of-a-kind ref. 15202XT that was created for the Only Watch charity auction in 2021. The other highlight of the timepiece is its dial boasts a radially brushed finish with a red-to-black gradient, which is quite different from the typical Royal Oak dial that features a chequerboard tapisserie pattern.
The hands and applied hour markers are all made from 18k pink gold, while the calendar disc is finished red to mirror the surface of the dial. Housed inside the case is the brand’s manufacture Caliber 7121 automatic movement which offers a power reserve of approximately 52 hours. The pricing for the Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Titanium BMG ref. 16202XT has not been publicly announced, but ABlogtoWatch reports that it carries a price tag of $96,400.
