The new 39mm white gold Royal Oak uses the ultra thin case and movement with the 2 hands configuration. The watch is intriguing primarily due to the unique dial color. Using the 2121 automatic movement, the 15202BC ticks at 19,800 vph and offers a 40-hour power reserve. It measures 8 mm on the wrist and is priced at US$55,400.
The Case
For the first time, the pink gold-toned “Petite Tapisserie” dial that appeared for the Royal Oak’s 20th anniversary in 1992 is matched with a satin-brushed 18-carat white gold case and bracelet. White gold was only used once in the 1980s for a Royal Oak with a blue dial and diamond-set hour-markers.
The white gold case measures 39 mm in diameter and 8 mm in thickness and is tested to 50 m water resistance. Using the same Royal Oak case design, the 3 piece construction, bezel, center case, caseback is fastened together from top to bottom using screws. It comes with a see-through caseback that reveals the ultra-thin caliber. The sapphire crystal on both sides are treated with Anti-reflective coating.
The Dial
More affectionately known as the salmon dial, the pink gold-toned dial with “Petite Tapisserie” pattern is fit with white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating. The unusual salmon dial on white gold case combination adds a degree of rarity to this Royal Oak edition. As mentioned prior, the pink gold-toned “Petite Tapisserie” dial first appeared in 1992 and was fit on a stainless steel case. Only 700 pieces in this dial variant were made.
The Movement
Using the 2121 automatic movement, the 15202BC ticks at 19,800 vph and offers a 40-hour power reserve. The slim (3.05mm) self-winding movement was originally created by Jaeger-LeCoultre and has also seen service in Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe watches in addition to Audemars Piguet. The low beat movement is steep in history, looking back to the 60s, when it was widely known as the landmark movement, with the reputation of the thinnest full rotor automatic ever made.
All in all, the watch is as it should be, very close to the original Royal Oak, with the same dimensions and movement used before. The rarity of the dial combination on a full gold bracelet case also makes this edition highly collectible.
