Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Repeater Supersonnerie

Out of the blue, some pretty big news appeared on the AP website this week. What you are looking at is an Audemars Piguet Supersonnerie in a conventional Royal Oak case shape. Originally announced as the AP Royal Oak Concept Supersonnerie back in 2014, the Supersonnerie was (and is) a groundbreaking chiming wristwatch that came with the unusual distinction of actually being louder on the wrist than off. The key to the Supersonnerie’s loud and clear sound are its gongs mounted on a sound board that’s covered by a caseback with openings.

Following the release of the first Supersonnerie, AP came with a one cased up in the platinum Jules Audemars case that featured a striking blue dial. Then came this year’s CODE 11:59 Minute Repeater, which just yesterday took home the Men’s Complication prize at the Geneva Grand Prix.

The watch we’re looking at today is a 20-piece limited edition in titanium with a blue Grande Tappisserie dial. It comes on a matching titanium bracelet. According to the AP site, it is available exclusively at the Japanese retailer Yoshida. A second, very similar version in platinum featuring a black dial, also exclusive to Yoshida and also limited to 20 pieces, appeared simultaneously on the AP site. That one is being listed as the “Royal Oak Repeater Supersonnerie.”  Both versions are in fact minute repeaters powered by the manually wound AP caliber 2959, which delivers 72 hours of power reserve. These soft launches follow a similar recent announcement, covered by Stephen, of an openworked version of AP Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar in black ceramic.  In our world, I think it’s safe to say that these releases are about as big as it gets from a brand like AP. Customarily, one would expect them to come with lots of fanfare.

In terms of sheer desireability, these have got to be the hottest Supersonneries released to date. The original version had plenty of fans, and the Jules Audemars certainly has its charm. The version in the Code 11:59 collection received one of watchmaking’s highest honors in winning the GPHG’s Men’s Complication prize. Still, this is AP, so quite naturally, people are going to want their Royal Oak fix. It’s as interesting that AP waited to come with a conventional Royal Oak version of its groundbreaking minute repeater as it is that they released it in such a low-key way, but now that it’s here, I can imagine that many collectors are going to want one. The AP site lists them as “Price Upon Request,” and I’ve reached out to find out out what they cost. I’ll update this story right away once I know.