It may have been conceived as the first luxury stainless steel sports watch with an integrated bracelet but since its introduction in 1972, Audemars Piguet has often used its emblematic Royal Oak model to showcase the brand’s haute horology credentials.

The tourbillon was first spotted on the Royal Oak in 1997 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the model - the reference 25831 with a self-winding movement and tourbillon escapement. The gravity-defying complication made an appearance again with the manual-winding Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin in 2012, this time to commemorate the 40^th anniversary of the icon. This remained the only Royal Oak tourbillon-only wristwatch in the Audemars Piguet catalogue till the introduction of the self-winding Extra Thin Flying Tourbillon in 2020.

The present extra-thin Royal Oak Tourbillon Ref. 26530TI.OO.1220TI.05 is a limited edition made for the Middle East. Produced in a limited run of just 25 pieces and offered to the brand’s elite clientele, the watch brings together features that are really endearing to Royal Oak collectors. The prized salmon dial is decorated with the brand’s “Evolutive Tapisserie” pattern that seem to radiate outwards from the aperture that houses the flying tourbillon, an added layer of exclusivity is the use of applied Eastern Arabic numerals on the dial. Lastly the case and bracelet is crafted from titanium, a material that the brand reserves for its more exclusive models.

The present watch is fresh to market, in like-new condition and offered with its full set of accessories.