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The Royal Oak Openworked returns with a new size and material
In watchmaking, few terms are used as loosely, or misunderstood as often, as skeletonized and openworked. They are frequently treated as interchangeable, when in reality they describe different philosophies, different processes, and very different levels of technical intent. Over time, convenience and marketing shorthand have softened their meaning, blurring the line between movements that are merely designed to look open and those that have been fundamentally transformed through the deliberate removal of material.
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Traditionally, openworking is an act of subtraction. It begins with a complete movement and asks a difficult question, how much metal can be removed without compromising strength, precision, or longevity? Every cut must be justified, every bridge rebalanced, and every remaining surface finished to withstand scrutiny from every angle. This discipline is what separates true openworked watchmaking from movements that are simply conceived to appear transparent from the outset. While the two approaches can look similar at a glance, they are not the same, and treating them as such erases an important distinction within the craft.
This is precisely where Audemars Piguet has remained disciplined. Within the Royal Oak collection, Openworked is not a stylistic label but a technical statement, reserved for watches where movements have been consciously reduced, architecture exposed, and finishing pushed firmly into the foreground. Over time, openworked Royal Oaks have evolved into technical flagships within the collection, serving as showcases for both mechanical mastery and structural refinement.
For 2026, Audemars Piguet expands this lineage with two distinct executions. One revisits the Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin through a contemporary dialogue of materials, while the other introduces a fully openworked expression of the 37mm Double Balance Wheel in yellow gold.
The Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Openworked is housed in a case that preserves the proportions that have defined the model for decades. Measuring 39 mm in diameter with a thickness of just 8.1 mm, the case is crafted primarily from titanium and contrasted by the use of Bulk Metallic Glass for the bezel and bracelet studs, which we talked about here. This material pairing introduces a subtle visual tension between the satin-brushed titanium surfaces and the mirror-polished hardness of the BMG elements. A sapphire exhibition caseback completes the construction, while water resistance is rated at 50 meters.
On the dial side, the openworked architecture is finished in a rhodium tone, creating a cool, almost monochromatic aesthetic that emphasizes depth and structure rather than decoration. Time is indicated by the signature Royal Oak hands, finished in a dark tone and filled with luminescent material, while the rectangular hour markers are crafted from blackened 18k white gold.
Powering the watch is the automatic calibre 7124. Operating at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz), this ultra-thin openworked movement delivers a power reserve of 57 hours. The watch is completed by an integrated titanium bracelet fitted with Bulk Metallic Glass studs and secured by a titanium three-blade folding clasp. Production is limited, with pricing available upon request.
The Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked takes a different approach, emphasizing compact proportions. The 37 mm case, with a thickness of 10 mm, is crafted entirely from 18k yellow gold, giving the watch a warm, tone-on-tone character. Despite its smaller diameter, the case retains the Royal Oak’s strong architectural presence, and a sapphire exhibition caseback offers an unobstructed view of the movement. Water resistance is again rated at 50 meters.
The openworked dial continues this monochromatic dialogue, rendered in yellow gold tones that echo the case and bracelet. Grey-toned hands filled with luminescent material provide contrast, while the rectangular hour markers are crafted from 18k pink gold and finished in a subtle silver-grey tone. The display remains focused on hours and minutes, with the double balance wheel mechanism clearly visible at the heart of the composition.
Inside is the automatic calibre 3132, operating at 28,800 vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of 45 hours. The use of two balance wheels enhances chronometric stability while reinforcing the technical identity of the model. An integrated 18k yellow gold bracelet with a folding clasp completes the watch. This version is part of the regular collection and is priced at €93,800, approximately AED 410,000.
For more information, visit Audemars Piguet’s official website.
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