Thin, Fast and Flying: Audemars Piguet’s Jumbo Surprise

Audemars Piguet has long been a master at challenging convention, and its latest creation is nothing short of a horological landmark.

The Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 is both a celebration of the maison’s 150th anniversary and the concluding chapter in its Research & Development series.

It brings together technical ingenuity, material innovation and aesthetic purity in a form that will resonate deeply with collectors and connoisseurs alike.

At 39 millimetres in diameter and a mere 8.1 millimetres in thickness, the RD#5 adheres to the elegant proportions of the original Royal Oak “Jumbo.”

Yet within this restrained case lies an entirely new calibre that represents the cutting edge of mechanical design.

The patented movement combines a flyback chronograph with a flying tourbillon and an instantaneous-jump minute counter, all while retaining an exceptionally slim profile.

What distinguishes this mechanism is not only its complication suite but also the precision with which it operates. The chronograph utilises a pinion system rather than a conventional cam arrangement, ensuring fluid engagement and reset.

The pushers themselves have been engineered with remarkable sensitivity, requiring a travel of only three tenths of a millimetre and a pressure of just 300 grams.

This creates an experience more akin to operating a finely calibrated instrument than a traditional chronograph, without compromising on water resistance or durability.

In keeping with Audemars Piguet’s experimental ethos, the case and bracelet blend titanium with bulk metallic glass, a high-tech alloy prized for its strength, resilience and lustrous finish.

This combination reduces weight while heightening durability, giving the watch an almost ethereal presence on the wrist. The bracelet, with its polished bevels and satin-brushed surfaces, continues the house’s dedication to tactile refinement, striking a balance between strength and elegance.

The dial presents the familiar Petite Tapisserie pattern in the maison’s iconic Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 shade. The flying tourbillon at six o’clock appears to float within its aperture, unencumbered by a traditional bridge, offering an uninterrupted view of its delicate rotation.

The chronograph counters are symmetrically positioned to preserve visual balance, making the dial as harmonious as it is technically complex.

The RD#5 marks the culmination of a visionary journey. Previous RD models have pushed boundaries in acoustic performance, ultra-thin engineering and perpetual calendars.

With this final edition, Audemars Piguet unites its most ambitious advances into a singular expression of modern haute horlogerie. It is at once a homage to the Royal Oak’s origins and a declaration of what the future may hold when artistry meets uncompromising research.

The exclusivity of the RD#5 is assured, with production limited to only 150 examples. Each is a collector’s statement piece, representing not just ownership of a timekeeping instrument but also a chapter in the evolution of one of the most revered names in Swiss watchmaking.

Priced at approximately CHF 260,000 before taxes, it sits at the summit of contemporary luxury, reserved for those who value innovation as highly as heritage.

As the RD series comes to its conclusion, the RD#5 embodies both a culmination and a beginning. It distils fifty years of Royal Oak design and 150 years of horological mastery into a piece that looks resolutely forward.

This is not a watch for those who wish merely to tell the time. It is for those who recognise the artistry of engineering at its most refined, and who understand that true luxury lies in the pursuit of the exceptional.