The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Mini Frosted Gold Is Petite Perfection
Coming in at 23mm and with a Frosted Gold finish, the latest take on the Royal Oak is made for delicate wrists.
Forget about the Jumbo; the latest addition to the Royal Oak lineup is the tiny-yet-mighty Royal Oak Mini collection, clocking in at a petite 23mm. Offered in three different monochromatic models in yellow, white or pink gold, these miniature takes on the Royal Oak are finely scaled-down versions of the iconic design, with all the core design codes in full effect, from the strong facets through to the Petite Tapisserie dial.
The 23mm size is a full 11mm smaller than the 34mm Royal Oak, which, until now, was the smallest size in the collection. In addition, all three of these new models have been presented in the popular jewel-like Frosted Gold finish, a technique pioneered by Florentine jeweler Carolina Bucci, and becoming increasingly popular in Audemars Piguet's more feminine offerings.
Interestingly enough, this isn't the first Royal Oak Mini, or even the smallest. That honor belongs to Model 67075, a 20mm model introduced as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations for the Royal Oak. To further emphasize the diversity of the model, it was presented alongside a 44mm Royal Oak Grande Complication. This initial Royal Oak Mini was released in limited numbers in steel, yellow and pink gold, as well as two-tone models. Within a few years, there were 26 versions of this petite timekeeper, demonstrating the relevance and appeal of the archetypal luxury sports watch in a smaller size. It is worth noting that this watch was created during the leadership of Jacqueline Dimier, an important figure in the brand's history, who served as the head of the design office from 1975 until 1999. It was Dimier who created the Royal Oak II in 1976, specifically with women in mind.
Of course, Audemars Piguet has a strong history in jewelry watches. In the early years, these watches took the forms of bracelets, pendants or rings — decorated with traditional jewelry techniques and gems, but there was also technical innovation in smaller movements, like a 15.8mm minute repeater from 1921 and a small baguette movement from 1927. The advent of quartz movements really allowed for smaller, highly accurate watches to shine. The first quartz Royal Oak was a 26mm model from 1980, followed by an even smaller 24.5mm version from 1986, and then the Royal Oak Mini from 1997.
It's been a while since we've seen a Royal Oak Mini in the Audemars Piguet family, but it's always had a place there. The latest version is perfectly pint-sized, at 23mm across and a slim 6.6mm tall, thanks to the quartz caliber 2730, which boasts a seven-year battery life. While the size might be small, there's no mistaking the design, which looms large in any dimensions, and the new addition of the jewel-like Frosted Gold finish adds an extra layer of lusciousness to these dainty new models.
SPECIFICATIONS
Royal Oak Mini Frosted Gold Quartz / 23mm
67630BA.GG.1312BA.01
Case: Hammered 18k yellow gold case, glareproofed sapphire crystal. Case thickness: 6.6mm
Dial: Yellow-gold-toned dial with Petite Tapisserie pattern, golden pink gold applied hour-markers, yellow gold Royal Oak hands with luminescent material.
Movement: Quartz Calibre 2730, total diameter 15.7mm (6 3⁄4 lignes), total thickness 2.2mm, number of jewels: 4, frequency of the quartz: 32.768Hz
Battery Life: 94 months
Water Resistance: 50m
Functions: Hours and minutes
Bracelet: Hammered 18k yellow gold bracelet with AP folding clasp.
Price: HKD 267,000
Royal Oak Mini Frosted Gold Quartz / 23mm
67630OR.GG.1312OR.01
Case: Hammered 18k pink gold case, glareproofed sapphire crystal. Case thickness: 6.6mm
Dial: pink-gold-toned dial with Petite Tapisserie pattern, pink gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent material.
Movement: Quartz Calibre 2730, total diameter 15.7mm (6 3⁄4 lignes), total thickness 2.2mm, number of jewels: 4, frequency of the quartz: 32.768Hz
Battery Life: 94 months
Water Resistance: 50m
Functions: Hours and minutes
Bracelet: Hammered 18k pink gold bracelet with AP folding clasp.
Price: HKD 267,000
Royal Oak Mini Frosted Gold Quartz / 23mm
67630BC.GG.1312BC.01
Case: Hammered 18k white gold case, glareproofed sapphire crystal. Case thickness: 6.6mm
Dial: Rhodium-toned dial with Petite Tapisserie pattern, Rhodium-toned pink gold applied hour-markers, white gold Royal Oak hands with luminescent material.
Movement: Quartz Calibre 2730, total diameter 15.7mm (6 3⁄4 lignes), total thickness 2.2mm, number of jewels: 4, frequency of the quartz: 32.768Hz
Battery Life: 94 months
Water Resistance: 50m
Functions: Hours and minutes
Bracelet: Hammered 18k white gold bracelet with AP folding clasp.
Price: HKD 267,000
