Audemarsโฃ Piguet Redefines Chronograph โฃOperation wiht Revolutionary RD#5 Release
LAUSANNE, โSWITZERLAND โ- Audemars Piguetโ todayโ unveiledโ the Royal Oak “Jumbo”โ Extra-Thin โคSelfwinding flying tourbillonโฃ Chronograph RD#5, a timepieceโฃ distinguished by a radical reimagining of the traditional chronograph function.The release marks a departure from the watchmaker’s typical developmentโ process,โข according to Giulio Papi, Audemars Piguet’s directorโค of research and development.
Since 2015, audemars Piguet has utilized its โฃRD (research โคand โขdevelopment) series toโ push the boundaries of watchmaking. Previous โRD releases include RD#1, focused on improving the sound of minute-repeaters;โค RD#2, which streamlinedโข 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 โขof operating a chronograph. The AP team observed that vintage watches featured chronograph pushers requiringโ substantially less force to activate than those on modernโ watches. “The challenge cameโค out of โขour 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 โขminimal pressure to start, stop, and reset the chronograph, effectively replicating the โขtactile experienceโ of vintage timepieces. This represents a fundamental shift โขin the 200-year-old operation of โthe chronograph function.
