Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Carolina Bucci Limited Edition In Black Ceramic

One of the most remarkable Royal Oaks in AP’s 50th anniversary line-up, this rainbow dial scores above the rest for a good reason. We tell you why…

In a market full of flamboyant rainbow dials, Carolina Bucci’s latest iteration of the Royal Oak scores above the rest thanks to an element of surprise. Imagine having the 34mm black beauty wrapped around your wrist – and just as you begin to admire the clean, distinct design details of the ceramic case, the dial lights up in every color of the spectrum! The varying effects of light on the tiny squares of the tapisserie dial lend a dramatic look to an otherwise understated watch – and it’s this perfect balance and the harmony in design that makes AP’s new Carolina Bucci limited edition absolutely enticing.

It’s interesting to note that for her previous collaboration with Audemars Piguet in 2018, Bucci had completely eliminated the tapisserie pattern on the Royal Oak Frosted Gold, which was paired with a mirrored dial. This year, to celebrate 50 years of the iconic Gerald Genta design, Bucci has brought back the signature tapisserie design on her version of the Royal Oak, getting the aesthetics as close to the original as possible but with a contemporary twist.

Just like the previous Carolina Bucci editions, this Royal Oak in black ceramic exemplifies the designer’s intent to push creative boundaries with the novel use of a sapphire disc to create the iridescent rainbow hue on the dial. “I wanted to place a rainbow in the most unexpected of places, a little like when you see oil floating on a puddle in a city street… so here you have every color of the spectrum on a canvas that is completely black, which is itself the absence of color,” says Bucci. 

So how exactly did the AP team realize Bucci’s vision in the final iteration of the watch? “It took us several months of trial and the joint expertise of our internal teams as well as the sapphire specialist we have worked with to achieve the given result,” explains the product team at AP. “The process involves the use of a sapphire plate, which is adorned with little squares achieved through laser microstructuring. This is then laid on top of the brass dial plate to create a rich rainbow-coloured play of light. A golden metallisation technique is also applied onto the back of the sapphire plate to create a mirror effect. The pattern of iridescent colors varies from dial to dial, making each design unique.” 

Since we spent a couple of hours playing around with this watch, we can vouch for the hypnotic effect it has on the wearer. I particularly loved how this watch can swing from sleek to sexy just with the slight movement of your wrist — the dial turns entirely black at certain angles and you have a tapisserie that appears and disappears in different light. The dial features the applied pink gold indices and hands to match the eight pink gold screws on the bezel and the pink gold insert in the crown — just the right hint of pop needed on a monochromatic watch, we say. The pink gold hour markers as well as the Royal Oak hands are treated with luminescent coating. Instead of the usual AP monogram, the dial features a long-from signature that has been engraved onto the sapphire crystal and filled with white lacquer, and the caseback features the inscription “Limited Edition Carolina Bucci”. 

Limited to 300 pieces, the Royal Oak Selfwinding 50th Anniversary by Carolina Bucci is powered by Caliber 5800 that delivers a power reserve of 50 hours. One can admire the movement adorned with a 22k pink gold rotor through the sapphire caseback, which is also engraved with the inscription “Limited Edition Carolina Bucci”. 

In my view, this is one of the most remarkable offerings from Audemars Piguet in its line-up for the 50th anniversary of Royal Oak – it’s fresh, contemporary and yet absolutely rooted in tradition. 

Specifications

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Carolina Bucci Limited Edition 34 mm

Reference Number: 77350CE.OO.1266CE.02
Movement: Cal. 5800
Power reserve: 50 hours
Water-resistance: 50 m
Dial: 34 mm; Black ceramic with 18k pink gold screws and titanium caseback
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, and date
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Strap: Integrated black ceramic bracelet
Price: US$54,200
Limited edition of 300 pieces, available at boutiques and AP Houses

For more information, visit Audemars Piguet.