Audemars Piguet Celebrates 150 Years with New Movements and Exceptional Editions

2025 marks the 150th anniversary of Audemars Piguet, one of Switzerland’s most revered independent watchmakers. Founded in Le Brassus in 1875, the brand continues to define the intersection of traditional watchmaking, technical innovation, and avant-garde design. For this milestone year, Audemars Piguet has introduced a series of limited-edition timepieces, headlined by a new perpetual calendar calibre and a commitment to both mechanical progress and design refinement.

Introducing Calibre 7138: A Modern Take on the Perpetual Calendar

At the heart of the anniversary collection is the newly developed Calibre 7138, a self-winding perpetual calendar movement that took five years to engineer and is protected by five patents. The movement is distinguished by its usability: all calendar adjustments are performed via a single crown. This innovation eliminates the need for recessed correctors and makes the mechanism significantly more user-friendly, solving a long-standing complication often associated with traditional perpetual calendars.

Calibre 7138 makes its debut in three 41 mm references, each limited to 150 pieces:

Royal Oak in stainless steel
Royal Oak in 18-carat yellow gold
Code 11.59 in white gold

All feature the new calibre in subtly distinctive executions. The Royal Oak versions are complemented by a heritage-inspired signature drawn from the brand’s archives, reinforcing Audemars Piguet’s historical legacy through design.

Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked 26585XT: Technicality Meets Materials Science

Also marking the anniversary is a striking new version of the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar. The reference 26585XT combines a 41 mm titanium case with BMG (Bulk Metallic Glass) components — an amorphous metal alloy used here for both the bezel and caseback. BMG offers superior scratch resistance and shock absorption compared to conventional metals, and its inclusion signals Audemars Piguet’s growing interest in advanced materials.

The skeletonised dial is framed by a brass-toned inner bezel in blue, with clear inspiration from the brand’s historical openworked pocket watches. Despite its mechanical complexity, the watch maintains a slim 9.9 mm profile and houses the Calibre 5135, offering 40 hours of power reserve. Water resistance is rated at 20 metres.

Only 150 pieces of this model will be made, underscoring its exclusivity.

Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon 38 mm: Elegance in Compact Form

For the first time, Audemars Piguet presents a Code 11.59 flying tourbillon in a 38 mm case, marking a significant step in bringing high complications to smaller proportions. The piece is crafted in 18-carat sand gold, a proprietary alloy combining gold, copper, and palladium. The case is adorned with 235 brilliant-cut diamonds totalling approximately 1.2 carats, including the lugs and crown.

Powered by the Calibre 2968, this ultra-thin movement offers a 50-hour power reserve and showcases a central flying tourbillon with no upper bridge, maximising dial visibility. The timepiece is paired with a beige alligator strap and features an 18-carat gold folding clasp set with 42 diamonds.

At just 9.6 mm thick, this model is both refined and technically sophisticated, avoiding the compromises often associated with smaller ladies’ timepieces.

Technical Highlights

Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked – 150th Anniversary Edition

Reference: 26585XT.OO.1220XT.01
Movement: Automatic Calibre 5135, 40-hour power reserve
Functions: Time, perpetual calendar (week, day, date, moonphase, leap year)
Case: 41 mm × 9.9 mm, titanium with BMG bezel and caseback, 20 m water resistance
Dial: Sapphire skeleton with blue inner flange
Bracelet: Titanium
Limited Edition: 150 pieces

Code 11.59 Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon – 38 mm

Reference: 26665SG.ZZ.D209CR.01
Movement: Automatic Calibre 2968, 50-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes, flying tourbillon
Case: 38 mm × 9.6 mm, 18-carat sand gold with 235 diamonds, 30 m water resistance
Dial: Gold-toned
Strap: Beige alligator leather with gold folding clasp and 42 diamonds

Legacy and Future Direction

Audemars Piguet remains one of the few major Swiss manufacturers still independently owned and operated by founding families. Throughout its 150-year history, the brand has consistently merged traditional Swiss craft with experimental aesthetics and materials. The 2025 anniversary collection reflects this duality — honouring a rich past while exploring the next chapter in horological design and innovation.