Audemars Piguet have launched a whole fleet of watches to get their 2026 started. Alongside more ambitious projects like the Neo Frame Jumping Hour, they’ve revisited some long time collector favourites to give them a spruce up with new editions, new colours and new dials. There are 11 new references in the Royal Oak collection alone – excluding the Offshore, which we’ll take a look at in a separate article. So, what has Audemars Piguet got planned for the Royal Oak in 2026?
Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Openworked 41mm
For their first Royal Oak, AP has revealed a new in-house, openworked perpetual calendar movement: the calibre 7139. It’s essentially the openworked counterpart to the 7138 that was introduced last year in the 150th anniversary collection. The big innovation is the creation of a single crown that can set the entire perpetual calendar display, making it easier than ever to set the watch if the 55-hour power reserve ever runs down. Plus it’s presumably compatible with the intelligent watch box, assuming its internal camera is capable of reading the new openworked dial.
The case measures 41mm in titanium with a BMG (Bulk Metallic Glass) bezel, which adds a higher lustre to the signature octagonal shape compared to the darker grey of the titanium case body and matching, integrated bracelet. With its haute horological display, the watch is price on request.
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Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph 38mm Trio
Continuing the theme of new movements, the Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph 38mm sees the calibre 6401 make its introduction across three references. It’s a replacement to the calibre 2385, which has been serving the RO Chronograph 38mm series since 1997. At its core, it offers a more streamlined take on the same chronograph architecture. It’s still a vertical clutch, column wheel chronograph but the number of components has been reduced to improve efficiency and extend its service lifetime. For the first time in the 38mm chronograph collection you can see the movement through the exhibition casebacks.
The three models it’s debuting in are a steel model, harking back to the sporty-chic origins of the collection as designed by Gerald Genta, as well as a pair of pink gold models. One of the pink gold editions has a grey dial while the other is gold with a diamond-set bezel to up the luxury even further. Their prices in order are £33,900, £66,500 and £72,100.
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Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding 41mm Ceramic
As I mentioned with the new Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Openworked above, the new movement in that watch is based on the calibre 7138 that made its entry onto the grand stage of horology last year. Not to be overshadowed by the calibre 7139, the 7138 now makes its way into the ceramic collection. Specifically, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Selfwinding Ceramic 41mm in Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50, which is an expansion of another collection from 2025. The colour of the ceramic is based on the colour of the dial on the original Royal Oak, giving it a strong heritage connection to the brand. It also demonstrates Audemars Piguet’s mastery of ceramic, as ensuring a smooth, consistent colour is incredibly difficult.
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Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked 37mm Yellow Gold
Audemars Piguet have expanded the Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked with a tone-on-tone yellow gold edition. It very much does what it says in the title, introducing the brightly coloured metal across the 37mm Royal Oak Case and the openworked dial, which reveals the inner workings of the calibre 3132 with 45-hour power reserve. A double balance enhances the stability and accuracy of the movement, as the two balances compensate for minor difference between them. It’s priced at £81,100.
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Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ Extra-Thin Openworked 39mm Titanium
Completing the trio of ‘old watch, new case material’ releases is the Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Openworked 39mm Titanium. It’s actually similar in overall case design to the 41mm Perpetual Calendar at the start of this article – it’s made with a titanium case body and BMG bezel. It makes for a striking contrast of materials between the brightness of the bezel and the darker titanium, which is quite unusual to see outside of Audemars Piguet. It’s another price on request model.
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Royal Oak Selfwinding 41mm/37mm Malachite
While the stone dial trend hit new levels of fervour last year, particularly among mid-range luxury and even some accessible brands, the top end of the watch industry has a longer relationship with stone dials. AP launched a turquoise edition of the Royal Oak 37mm in 2023. Now that same model is dressed in a malachite dial, as well as a larger 41mm edition to boot. Interestingly they’ve gone for a much softer malachite pattern than usual, featuring an undulating pattern of dark greens instead of the more regimented striations seen on examples from other brands.
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Royal Oak Mini Quartz 23mm Stone Dials Onyx & Mother-of-Pearl
Rounding out the Royal Oak releases of 2026 in the core collection are a pair on miniscule Royal Oak Mini Quartz 23mm editions. These are jewellery watches in the traditional sense, focused more being accessories and fashion items rather than a primary timekeeping function. Taking the style of the Royal Oak and making it dainty and decorative rather than bold and sporty. They’re available in black onyx and white mother-of-pearl.
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More details at Audemars Piguet.
