Month: February 2018

No matter whether or not you are interested in all things that glitter, it can’t be denied that 2018’s trends were punctuated by heaps of the 79th element in yellow, white, and frosty hues. And no one had more to show in this camp than the replica Audemars Piguet, whose Extra-Thin Jumbo Royal Oak in gold didn’t quite steal the spotlight from the show-stopping Perpetual Calendar in ceramic, but it surely came awfully close – particularly for those who’ve been following the last 40 or so years of the Royal Oak. 
As we already get down to looking forward to 2018’s novelties, we thought it high time to take a closer look at some of this year’s favorites, which consist of the gloriously over-the-top 15202, rendered for the first time as a fashionable, non-limited reference entirely in 18-carat yellow gold. It’s not just the all-gold case that lends the 15202 significance though – there are some other visual cues that set this special reference apart and might make it more desirable for collectors in the future. Perhaps most obvious is a simple time and date-only dial configuration, completed by the ‘AP’ logo at 6:00, which pays direct homage to the original steel 5402 released in 1972. This aesthetic also tips its hat towards the yellow gold 5402BA Jumbo released five years later – the first time Audemars Piguet replica rendered the Jumbo in this valuable metal.
However, more noteworthy is the thickness – the new 15202 measures a hair over 8mm, 0.2mm thicker than the original 5402, and the closest we’ve seen to those pioneering ultra-thin measurements since the 40th Anniversary editions from 2012 – hence the ‘Extra Thin’ naming convention. This new-but-really-old profile, coupled with the eminently wearable 39mm case size truly feels like the sweet spot for the Royal Oak and has much to do with why this iconic design was able to become such a future-proof classic in the first place.
The Jumbo Royal Oak in its most classic instruction is a watch that historically, by all measurements, should wear exceptionally thin. However, this new reference is one that still manages to jump off the wrist, thanks to its solid yellow gold case, and light-gobbling “Petite Tapisserie” tonal champagne-colored waffle dial. Those looking for a slightly more toned-down aesthetic still rendered in this precious metal will appreciate the second of the 15202’s two new dial variations: a fabulous blue, which, given the spate of blue-on-bronze sports replica watches we’ve seen this year, is as much on-trend, as it is slightly less ostentatious.
In spite of the svelte profile though, the gold 15202 is a surprisingly heavy replica watch. This tactile illusion is due, of course to the fact that gold’s density is almost three times that of stainless steel, lending the assertive wrist presence of a much larger sports watches to one that can otherwise slide easily beneath the cuff of a dress shirt.