Audemars Piguet presents an innovative colored ceramic inspired by the skies of the Vallée de Joux

Audemars Piguet presents innovative colored ceramic inspired by the skies of the Vallée de Joux ​ Image
URL: Audemars Piguet Japan Co., Ltd. Press release: April 1, 2025 Audemars Piguet presents an innovative colored ceramic inspired by the skies of the Vallée de Joux Deep blue ceramic colors the three models of the Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore collections Audemars Piguet, the Swiss haute horlogerie manufacture celebrating its 150th anniversary, presents a new colored ceramic inspired by the legendary “Night Blue, Cloud 50” color developed in 1972 for the dial of the first Royal Oak (model 5402). TheVallée de Joux’s sparkling night sky has been a source of inspiration for generations of watchmakers. A deep blue ceramic that reflects this brilliance adds a new color to three models in the Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore collections. After several years of research and development, this material has achieved the challenge of achieving uniform coloration across all watch components. These three timepieces embody the Manufacture’s constant pursuit of innovation in design and materials, and pay homage to Le Brassus, where Audemars Piguet was born 150 years ago.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/143589/8/143589-8-4f4f145b287f37abbd250e79fb09d01b-2025×2700.jpg Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Staring at the sky for inspiration Measuring time has its origins in astronomical observations, which have always guided watchmakers’ pursuit of precision. And not only the movements of celestial bodies, but also the colors of the clear night sky of the Vallée de Joux have inspired the imagination and creativity of Audemars Piguet’s artisans. Gerald Genta was inspired by this deep blue and reproduced it on the dial of the first Royal Oak model (Model 5402) released in 1972. Stern, a Geneva dial maker at the time, developed the color “Night Blue, Cloud 50” by adding the black color n°50 to a protective varnish (called Zapon). The word “cloud” is said to originate from the cloud-like pattern created when colored droplets are added to varnish liquid. Reproducing this blue color requires a complex process. Since galvanic processing causes the color to change depending on time and temperature, we currently use PVD (vapor deposition) to achieve a more uniform color. Due to its complex manufacturing process and the popularity of the original Royal Oak, the “Night Blue, Cloud 50” color has now become as iconic of the brand as the watch itself.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/143589/8/143589-8-aafb7b765d3be385062dc4c468fd4caa-2025×2700.jpg Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Ceramic created by the fusion of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology Lightweight and scratch-resistant, ceramic has been featured in the brand’s
collections since 1985, although its extreme hardness makes it difficult to process. “Night Blue, Cloud 50” joins the existing Black, Electric Blue, Green and Brown, further solidifying the Manufacture’s tradition of continuous innovation in materials and design. In order to use the “Night Blue, Cloud 50” color on the ceramic, it was necessary to achieve a uniform color throughout the watch and ensure its reproducibility, so development took several years. Each part of a watch goes through several production processes, including machining, sintering, and finishing. The final step is Audemars Handcrafted by Piguet craftsmen, the ceramic components are finished to the same high level as precious metals, despite their hard and fragile nature. The alternating polished and satin-finished surfaces enhance the depth of color and highlight the multifaceted structure of the Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore cases. Combining high-tech machining and
traditional hand-finishing, this unique material is the epitome of modern watchmaking techniques.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/143589/8/143589-8-f6a8ca8801df7b6498fcdd3b1dba8709-3900×2891.jpg Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openwork 3 models of “Night Blue, Cloud 50” The 41mm “Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openwork” is made entirely of ceramic in the “Night Blue, Cloud 50” color. This monochrome design highlights the rhodium-toned openwork movement beneath the sapphire crystal dial, while details such as the pink gold hands and hour markers create a striking visual contrast. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/143589/8/143589-8-eac42ab7bdd379b839b44d2db109e7ec-2232×2700.jpg Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openwork The 42mm Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph features a sportier monochrome design. Ceramic parts harmonize with the “Night Blue Cloud 50” inner bezel, Mega Tapestry dial, and chronograph counter. The uniform design features a delicate contrast between the eight stainless steel hexagonal screws on the bezel and the titanium crown top and case back. For the first time in the collection, this model features a new ceramic bracelet, with seamlessly integrated pins connecting the studs and links for an elegant finish.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/143589/8/143589-8-9ef969c154c66116fbe69e817ebc4959-3900×2926.jpg Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph The 43mm Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph features a two-tone design with a stainless steel and Night Blue Cloud 50 ceramic bezel, pushers and crown, with a strong contrast of colors that continues all the way to the dial. The “Night Blue, Cloud 50” mega tapestry-patterned dial emphasizes the watch’s powerful silhouette and complements the luminescent 18K hands and hour markers. It comes with an interchangeable textile-like calf leather strap that matches the color of the ceramic, and a blue rubber strap that brings out its sporty personality.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/143589/8/143589-8-fccfac8d2efbc66eb8a0230b791dfd84-3900×2906.jpg Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph With the launch of the “Night Blue Cloud 50” ceramic, Audemars Piguet is building a new bridge between past and future, paying homage to the master craftsmen who have supported the brand’s history and to the Vallée de Joux, which has been its home for more than 150 years.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/143589/8/143589-8-c69990c365d4204eab3628b69199dbea-2026×2700.jpg “Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openwork” Ceramic & Titanium Case, 41mm, Price Inquiry
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/143589/8/143589-8-226460d8679f69a0b4ea68c692ee8f7e-2026×2700.jpg “Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph” ceramic & titanium case, 42mm, price inquire
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/143589/8/143589-8-ab41a78a58c5a10312ee7e415801bbc5-2026×2700.jpg “Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph” Ceramic & SS case, 43mm, 6.16 million yen (tax included) About Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet is the oldest luxury watch brand still run by the founding families (Audemars, Piguet). Based in Le Brassus since 1875, we have nurtured generations of talented artisans who continue to develop new skills and techniques and improve their craftsmanship in order to create unconventional trends. In the Vallée de Joux, nestled in the Swiss Jura Mountains, a number of carefully selected masterpieces of design and technology are created, embodying the Manufacture’s heritage of craftsmanship and forward-thinking spirit. Pushing the boundaries of what is possible and building bridges between creative worlds, Audemars Piguet has always moved towards new horizons and created a community inspired by its spirit. Seek Beyond (Beyond the clock. Beyond the imagination.) https://www.audemarspiguet.com