Audemars Piguet Redefines Chronograph Operation wiht Revolutionary RD#5 Release
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND - Audemars Piguet today unveiled the Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Selfwinding flying tourbillon Chronograph RD#5, a timepiece distinguished by a radical reimagining of the traditional chronograph function.The release marks a departure from the watchmaker’s typical development process, according to Giulio Papi, Audemars Piguet’s director of research and development.
Since 2015, audemars Piguet has utilized its RD (research and development) series to push the boundaries of watchmaking. Previous RD releases include RD#1, focused on improving the sound of minute-repeaters; RD#2, which streamlined the perpetual calendar; RD#3, dedicated to slimming the tourbillon; and RD#4, the brand’s most complicated watch to date with 23 complications.
The core challenge of RD#5 centered on the feel of operating a chronograph. The AP team observed that vintage watches featured chronograph pushers requiring substantially less force to activate than those on modern watches. “The challenge came out of our frustration of feeling the sensation you could get in the vintage pieces,” said Papi.
The solution, unexpectedly, drew inspiration from contemporary technology. The RD#5 incorporates buttons-described as having an “iPhone-style” feel-that require minimal pressure to start, stop, and reset the chronograph, effectively replicating the tactile experience of vintage timepieces. This represents a fundamental shift in the 200-year-old operation of the chronograph function.
