The Two Smoked Blue AP Royal Oak 41mm You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

If you’re a recurring reader of MONOCHROME, you’ve probably seen that we’re normally very reactive, and we try our best to deliver the freshest news possible. However, from time to time, we’re still caught by surprise when a brand has released new editions of its watches without communicating about it. Today is a perfect example of this situation, as Audemars Piguet released two new versions of the Royal Oak several weeks ago, and didn’t say anything about it. But now you know… Here are the two white gold, smoked blue 41mm Royal Oak Selfwinding models you’ve probably never seen before. 

What we’ll be talking about is nothing groundbreaking or innovative, but just two very good-looking models that were released several weeks ago, without anyone really noticing it. In short, we have two 41mm editions of the Royal Oak, a time-and-date and a chronograph, housed in white gold cases, equipped with new smoked dials.

The first is based on the classic reference 15510, the 41mm automatic Royal Oak – not to be confused with the Extra-Thin Jumbo model. For the occasion, this edition relies on a white gold case measuring 10.5mm in thickness, paired with a white gold bezel and a screw-lock crown, sapphire crystals on both sides and a 50m water-resistance. As you’d expect, it comes on a matching white gold bracelet with a folding clasp. Inside the case is the in-house calibre 4302, the brand’s latest generation of automatic movement with 70h of power reserve.

The second model is based on the chronograph reference 26240, a watch that we know perfectly well since the model’s 50th anniversary. This 41mm watch is, due to its complication, thicker at 12.4mm. The white gold case features screwed pushers and sapphire crystals on both sides. It also comes with a white gold integrated bracelet and 50m of water-resistance. Inside is the brand’s integrated flyback chronograph movement, the calibre 4401 with 70h power reserve.

The main novelty for this pair of 41mm Royal Oak models concerns the dial. Both have the range’s “grande tapisserie” pattern – not the more refined “petite tapisserie” of the Jumbo – here presented in a smoked dark blue colour. It has a slight gradient effect with a darker periphery, adding some depth to the display. Both have white gold applied markers and hands, filled with luminescent coating, and a silver grey inner bezel.

These two smoked blue Royal Oak 41mm Selfwinding models have been released first as Japan special editions, before being made available to the rest of the world. The Selfwinding 15510BC retails for EUR 68,400, and the Chronograph 26240BC retails for EUR 81,200. For more details, please visit audemarspiguet.com.