Introducing: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar In White Ceramic

June 06, 2019

Have you ever heard the expression "Shut up and play the hits?" Nobody goes to see The Rolling Stones to hear them play b-sides from Dirty Work. No, they go to hear "Gimme Shelter," "Sympathy for the Devil," and Paint It, Black." This watch is Audemars Piguet shutting up and playing the hits C and to great success, I might add. What we've got here is a Royal Oak (check), a perpetual calendar (check), and an entirely white ceramic watch (check). It's hard to think of something that AP could do at this level (we're not talking 15202 variations here, people) that would be more crowd-pleasing and gasp-inducing than this.Technically speaking, this watch is based on the ref. 26574 Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar that launched back in 2015. It's got the same basic shape, the same dial layout, and the same caliber 5134 movement inside. The thing that sets this boutique-exclusive variation apart is its white ceramic case and bracelet, paired with a beautiful blue dial. It has been available in a black ceramic case with matching bracelet and matching black dial since SIHH 2017 (we showed you some early hands-on photos here) and since then it's been one of the hardest Audemars Piguet watches to get out of the whole collection. If you're not already a great client of their boutiques you can basically forget even asking. While the white colorway might be a little more niche, I don't expect it to be any easier to obtain. Initial Thoughts This watch has attitude to spare, and I love it. It's a great example of swinging for the fences and I'll take that over a boring move every time. AP has a long history of working with white ceramic too, so you know this isn't something that got pushed out the door to align with trends or purely shock people. From the white ceramic Royal Oak Diver to the white ceramic Royal Oak Concept GMT, working with this polarizing material is nothing new for the brand. In fact, AP's work with ceramic has become one of its signatures. Achieving the brushed and polished finishes and the precise geometries needed for a watch like the Royal Oak to work is extremely difficult when you're working with something hard and crack-prone like ceramic, and I'm yet to see a ceramic watch in-hand that impresses me like these bad boys do. If this watch is anything like its all-black cousin, it's a surefire winner.While I don't think I'm the kind of guy who could pull of a Royal Oak in all white ceramic, this watch definitely makes me wish I was. The Basics Brand: Audemars PiguetModel: Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar In White CeramicReference Number: 26579CB.OO.1225CB.01Diameter: 41mmThickness: 9.5mmCase Material: White ceramicDial Color: Blue with Grande TapisserieIndexes: Applied white gold and silver-tone printingLume: Yes, on hands and hour markersWater Resistance: 20 metersStrap/Bracelet: White ceramic bracelet The Movement Caliber: In-House Caliber 5134Functions: Hours, minutes, date, perpetual calendar with day of the week, date, week, month, leap year, and moonphase indicatorsDiameter: 29mmPower Reserve: 40 hoursWinding: AutomaticFrequency: 2.75 Hz (19,800 vph)Jewels: 38Total Components: 374 Pricing & Availability Price: $93,900Availability: Boutique exclusiveLimited Edition: Limited production, but not numbered or strictly limitedFor more click here.