The Royal Oak is one of the most established designs in modern watchmaking, yet references like the Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon 26735SG sit slightly outside the expected. The 41mm case and architecture remain unchanged, but the presence is entirely different. This comes down to sand gold, Audemars Piguet’s proprietary 18-carat alloy of gold, copper and palladium. It sits between white and pink gold without fully aligning with either, shifting with the light from a cooler, almost steel-like tone to a softer, muted rosé. It is not widely seen, used selectively by the manufacturer, and rarely encountered in person. For those already familiar with steel or ceramic Royal Oaks, it offers something altogether less fixed, and far less common.
24 April 2026
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon 26735SG
BY JAMES SAMPSON
Beneath the sapphire crystal, the dial is fully openworked, revealing the calibre 2972 in its entirety. A self-winding flying tourbillon movement composed of 271 components, designed to maintain the Royal Oak’s proportions while incorporating one of its most demanding complications. The architecture is deliberately three dimensional, allowing light to move through the movement while preserving its structure. Each bridge is bevelled and finished by hand, with sharp internal angles and polished edges that reward closer attention. At six o’clock, the flying tourbillon is mounted from below, without an upper bridge, appearing almost suspended within the case. Its steady rotation brings a quiet sense of movement, while serving its purpose of improving timekeeping by compensating for positional variation. The movement offers a 65-hour power reserve.
What ultimately defines the Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon 26735SG is not a single detail, but how rarely these elements come together. A material developed and used sparingly. A movement that requires time to finish, not scale. A Royal Oak that sits slightly outside the standard offering. Pieces like this are not often available, particularly in unworn condition.
It is less about variation, more about choosing a different level of the Royal Oak entirely.
This 2025 example is available at Onaro, unworn and complete with box and papers.
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