Audemars Piguet’s New 34mm Royal Oak In White Ceramic

Always willing to listen to collectors, quick to modernize, and constantly embracing contemporary design language, Audemars Piguet has yet again proven its ability to introduce timeless watches with thoughtful updates with the launch of the new 34mm Royal Oak in white ceramic.

The Royal Oak is inarguably one of the most iconic watches we have in the industry, and as its continued popularity has proven, its design is equally timeless, given that collectors continue to fawn over its angular proportions, avant-garde design and unique aesthetic. However, that has not stopped Audemars Piguet from constantly updating the Royal Oak in line with modern tastes and the desire of their collectors. When AP launched their very first ceramic Royal Oak in 2017, the scene was set; collectors simply demanded more. In the years following, ceramic Royal Oak variants have been few and far between, but AP have, to their credit, listened to their collectors and continued to periodically release new versions, a trend that has thankfully continued to this day where we have the watch of the hour, the new 34mm Royal Oak ref. 77350CB.OO.1266CB.01 in white ceramic.

Modernizing A Timeless Design

One of the Royal Oak’s most controversial elements, when it was first released in 1972, was its exposed steel screws. Today, AP have chosen to utilize these screws to add a splash of luxury to the Royal Oak ref. 77350CE by making them out of 18k rose gold, which clearly contrasts the white ceramic surrounding them. Additionally, this use of 18k rose gold is echoed in the ref. 77350CE’s display through its 18k rose gold indices, hands, and the rose gold branding – applied with the help of the new galvanic growth method that AP debuted in 2022 as part of the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary. 

Besides the hints of gold on the dial display, AP has also fitted the watch’s white ceramic crown with an 18k rose gold insert that caps off a captivating combination of colors that effortlessly modernize the Royal Oak’s aesthetic. 

Powered by the meticulously finished automatic cal. 5800, the ref. 77350CE comes equipped with a 50-hour power reserve and a 22k rose gold winding rotor, which can be admired through the exhibition caseback made of 18k rose gold.

Always Pushing Boundaries

Following in the footsteps of its black ceramic sibling, the new white ceramic 34mm Royal Oak ref. 77350CE took two years to develop due to white ceramic’s unique hardness. This makes it more challenging to produce, construct, finish and assemble than the softer black ceramic version. As a result, AP’s willingness to even produce watches in white ceramic demonstrates their desire to push horological boundaries, leave no stone unturned and modernize a timeless timepiece, the Royal Oak.

A Complex Construction

Retaining the Royal Oak’s angular construction, razor-sharp beveled edges and vibrant combination of brushed surfaces and polished accents, the new ref. 77350CE is an incredibly appealing watch. Bright as a result of its white ceramic construction, the shadows it casts on itself show the true complexity of its construction. In fact, AP’s soon-to-depart CEO François-Henry Bennahmias asked for a full ceramic Royal Oak, bracelet and all, in 2012 when he took over as CEO. He was told it would be impossible and that it was simply too complicated. Fast forward a decade, and we’re now beginning to see all-ceramic Royal Oaks penetrate the time and date-only portions of the collection.

Final Thoughts

While its white and rose gold color scheme and 34mm diameter might have been designed with women in mind, I find it hard to imagine that the ref. 77350CE won’t prove to be a perfectly unisex watch, given how genuinely versatile the Royal Oak is and how much larger its integrated bracelet allows it to wear than its 34mm diameter. So, with the trend of shrinking men’s watches and growing women’s watches, this new 34mm stunner seems to fit neatly in the middle as a watch that couples might just have to figure out a way to share with one another.

Specifications

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding

Reference Number: 77350CB.OO.1266CB.01
Movement: Caliber 5800
Mechanism: Selfwinding
Frequency: 4Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour)
Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds and date
Power reserve: 50 hours
Case: 34mm white ceramic
Water Resistance: Up to 50 meters
Bracelet: White ceramic bracelet with AP folding clasp in steel with black DLC treatment
Price: 47,400 CHF

For more details, visit Audemars Piguet.