Royal Oak "Jumbo" Extra-thin Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 "150th Anniversary"

Coinciding with Audemars Piguet's 150th anniversary, the brand unveiled the latest innovation from its Research & Development department. Combining technical sophistication, performance and iconic design with a new standard of ergonomic refinement, the Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 marks a new era in the history of chronographs and in the evolution of complications. Requiring five years of development by Audemars Piguet’s teams, this exceptional timepiece houses the all-new Calibre 8100, whose inner workings have been entirely reimagined and patented to meet the expectations of the most discerning collectors. Every detail has been meticulously crafted, pushing the boundaries of ergonomic design to redefine the touch-sensitivity of chronograph push-pieces. Notably, the RD#5 features a rare instant jump minute counter alongside an hour counter and – for the first time in the Royal Oak collection – combines a flyback chronograph with a flying tourbillon. Limited to 150 pieces, this milestone creation is crafted from titanium and precious bulk metallic glass (BMG) to offer a balance of lightness, durability and brilliance.

For over 150 years, chronographs have evolved in form and function, yet their core reset mechanism – based on the traditional hammer and heart piece – has remained largely unchanged. With Calibre 8100, presented for the first time in RD#5, Audemars Piguet has entirely reimagined the zero-resetting system, introducing an integrated flyback chronograph that is more ergonomic, intuitive, and precise. In-house engineers have developed a new, patented, mechanism that optimises energy from both the movement and the short-travel, low-force push-pieces. This innovation is based on a rack-and-pinion mechanism, designed to replace the conventional heart piece and hammer. By storing energy in the rack, this device keeps the gear train under tension and prevents the chronograph hand from shuddering while eliminating the need for the friction spring found in contemporary chronographs – a component acting as a constant break during operation and reset alike. The result is similar energy consumption, but the energy is now stored rather than dispersed.

Another challenge presented by traditional chronographs is the energy they require for resetting. To address this, the teams sought to develop a solution which would provide a smoother reset with reduced inertia. The energy stored in the rack can be released to return the chronograph hand to zero in a retrograde motion. By using titanium components, including the hand and chronograph wheel, the reset is instantaneous, requiring minimal energy.

The new Calibre 8100 not only features a flying tourbillon but also introduces an innovative vertical clutch system. This design combines traditional and friction clutches, allowing the clutch wheel to move vertically, which reduces unnecessary rotations and limits jumps. The calibre also features a column wheel that ensures smooth operation of the start and stop functions. For resetting, a patented system stores energy until it reaches a tipping point, then releases it all at once, ensuring the hands return to zero quickly and with precision*. On the back of the watch, Audemars Piguet's teams have developed a peripheral oscillating weight in platinum, reducing thickness and providing an unobstructed view of the movement's refined finishes, such as the hand-bevelled chronograph bridges, sharp inward angles, and satin finish. With a 72-hour power reserve, this robust chronograph easily adapts to modern lifestyles, including various sporting activities, without the risk of deregulating.

*Patent CN119325578A