Introducing The 38mm Royal Oak Chronograph Adopts an In-House Calibre

Within the Royal Oak collection, the chronograph has always evolved at its own pace. Introduced as a more complex interpretation of Gérald Genta’s original design, it gradually became one of the most technically expressive branches of the Royal Oak family. While the core design language remained consistent, the chronograph line expanded over time through changes in size, layout, and mechanical architecture.

The 38mm Royal Oak Chronograph was introduced in 2019 as the most compact expression of the collection’s chronograph offering. Its proportions were closely aligned with the classic Royal Oak silhouette, and its scale made it accessible to a wider range of wrists without altering the visual identity that defines the model. From a design perspective, it remained remarkably faithful to the larger chronograph references, sharing the same case architecture, dial textures, and integrated bracelet construction.

As the Royal Oak Chronograph collection evolved, a clear technical shift began to take shape. Larger references transitioned to modern in-house chronograph movements, setting a new technical standard for the line and reinforcing Audemars Piguet’s focus on internal development. The 38mm model, however, remained mechanically unchanged, relying on the outsourced FP 1185 calibre, which was reworked and renamed Calibre 2385. Over time, this movement increasingly felt out of step with expectations and was widely regarded as outdated for a chronograph bearing the Royal Oak name.

This latest update brings the 38mm Royal Oak Chronograph back into step with the broader collection. By introducing a newly developed in-house chronograph movement designed specifically for its compact case, Audemars Piguet completes the technical progression of the Royal Oak Chronograph family, allowing its smallest member to finally reflect the same mechanical advancement as its larger counterparts.

The watch is housed in the familiar Royal Oak case, defined by its tonneau-shaped base and octagonal bezel secured with visible screws. The case measures 38 mm in diameter with a thickness of 11.1 mm, maintaining proportions that closely echo earlier versions of the model. It is available in stainless steel or 18k pink gold, with one pink gold reference further distinguished by a diamond-set bezel. For the first time, the 38mm Royal Oak Chronograph is fitted with a sapphire crystal caseback, replacing the solid back used on previous iterations. This change allows a view of the new movement while retaining a water-resistance rating of 50 metres.

The dial remains instantly recognisable, yet subtly refined. The stainless steel version features a blue Grande Tapisserie dial, while the pink gold models are offered with either a grey dial paired with silver-toned counters or a sand gold-toned dial complemented by beige counters. Gold baton-style hour and minute hands are filled with luminescent material and matched by applied gold indices, also treated with lume. The chronograph layout has been revised, with the 30-minute counter now positioned at 9 o’clock and the 12-hour counter at 3 o’clock, while the small seconds remain at 6 o’clock. The date window has been repositioned to sit more centrally between 4 and 5 o’clock, after it was closer to the 5 o’clock position.

Powering the watch is the new in-house Calibre 6401, an automatic chronograph movement developed specifically for the 38mm Royal Oak Chronograph. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz) and delivers a power reserve of 55 hours, improving on both the 3 Hz frequency and the 40-hour power reserve of the previous movement.

The watch is fitted with an integrated bracelet matching the case material and secured by a folding clasp. Pricing is set at CHF 34,000 (approximately AED 160,000) for the stainless steel version, CHF 66,700 (approximately AED 315,000) for the pink gold model, and CHF 72,400 (approximately AED 342,000) for the pink gold reference with a diamond-set bezel.

For more information, visit Audemars Piguet’s official website.