The AP Royal Oak Jumbo 16202, Now In White Gold With Grained Tuscan Dial

Following the release last year of an updated Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin collection – the 16202ST, for the steel model – in the frame of the 50th anniversary of the brand’s iconic watch, Audemars Piguet is today releasing a new version that, visually, will feel familiar to fans of the model. If I say 14802PT…? Yes, this extremely rare version of the Royal Oak Jumbo Jubilee 20-year, made of platinum, in only 20 examples, with some of the examples featuring a grained blue Tuscan dial. Well, it’s somehow back, with the new Royal Oak Jumbo Ultra-Thin 16202BC, a boutique-exclusive white gold version with… a grained blue dial. 

Looking at the image of the 14802PT above, it is obvious where AP found the inspiration. The brand doesn’t hide its strategy with the new Jumbo 16202 collection, which pays tribute to historical models. For instance, the classic steel version kept the look and proportions of the original 1972 model almost intact, down to the recreation of the original Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 colour of the dial. This new white gold version continues the collection’s historical thread, bringing back one of the most elusive dials seen on the RO Jumbo. The so-called Tuscan dial.

The recipe is pretty simple. Take a Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-thin, give it a new material for the case (one that hasn’t been seen yet on this reference) and a new dial. All the rest remains identical. This means a 39mm x 8.1mm case, now made of 18k white gold, but still very much like the original 1972 Jumbo, and no different from all other Royal Oak Jumbo 16202 models. Still brushed and polished, still featuring the octagonal bezel with 8 screws, still with sapphire crystals on both sides, and still water-resistant to 50 metres.

What matters most today is the dial. Indeed, even though it isn’t made of platinum anymore, this new Royal Oak Jumbo 16202BC brings back a historic Tuscan dial, with a look that is rather different from all other models in the portfolio. The dial features a reworked texture, with a finer and brighter grain, and a blue tone that is obtained by a PVD process. The surface is then covered with a translucent coating that accentuates the relief and brilliance of the dial.

The rest of the dial remains classic for a Royal Oak Jumbo Ultra-Thin, with white gold applied markers and hands with lume, an applied AP logo at 6 o’clock and the logo printed at 12 o’clock. The date disc is matching the colour of the dial too. It is worn on the classic integrated bracelet of the collection, closed by a double-folding clasp, but here made of 18k white gold.

This new Royal Oak Jumbo 16202BC Grained Blue shares the same movement as other recent Jumbos, meaning the in-house calibre 7121. This calibre offers a longer power reserve, an increased frequency and comes with a quick-set date, compared to the movement found in previous generations of the Jumbo. All the details about the movement are here.

The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-thin 16202BC in white gold with a grained blue dial will be a boutique exclusive edition – not limited, but most probably made in small quantities. The price is EUR 78,000. For more details, please visit www.audemarspiguet.com.