Audemars Piguet and Marvel have spun a web together to catch the attention of all the Marvel fans out there, and we must admit- it’s a fascinating web you’d want to get trapped into. The masterpiece created with this hype-worthy collaboration is the Audemars Piguet ‘Spider-Man’ Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon. Yes, you heard that right!
Following the footsteps of 2021’s Black Panther AP, the brand has wrapped the Marvel superhero under its hood. And, we’re sure that the watch will soon gravitate towards the wrists of some of the most celebrated wrists, including Tom Holland, the Spider-Man himself. It is a limited edition timepiece of just 250 pieces, the same as the Black Panther, and you can see AP extending the same level of craftsmanship and revolutionary technology.
Without further delay, let’s get into the heroic details.
Picture Courtesy: Audemarspiguet.com
What it looks like?
The newcomer embodies a 42mm titanium case with a complementing black ceramic bezel and crown, ensuring that the Super Hero gets all its deserved attention. The iconic Spider-Man miniature covers almost all the dial space with its signature web-shooting pose. The three-dimensional Spider-Man miniature is hand-painted using white gold and powered by the brand NEW hand-wound Calibre 2974.
Seeing Spider-Man on a dial is not new, but the finesse of the complexity makes AP’s version stand out. The Spidey appears suspended in the void through the sapphire crystal. It seems as if he is swinging right into your face! Thanks to Movement 2974 that is pared down as much as possible compared to the Calibre 2948 to reinforce this stunning effect.
The iconic matt red and metallic blue combination gives a realistic illusion. Apart from the Spidey, the dial features alternating black PVD-coated white gold hour markers and Arabic numerals with hands overlaid with the same element. It also has an internal chapter ring minute readout and a tourbillon at 6 o’clock. You cannot call it a fully skeletonised dial but rather a partially open-worked ‘web dial’.
When seen in the dark, the hands and the numerals turn blue due to the white luminescence. Referring to this characteristic, the brand says it ‘subtly refers to the charismatic world of Spider-Man’.
Lastly, the AP Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon ‘Spider-Man’ comes with an interchangeable strap system. You can easily pair it with a black and red rubber strap or a black and grey one featuring a titanium buckle.
Picture Courtesy: Audemarspiguet.com
A serious piece of art involving 50 hours of work
It certainly took a heroic effort to create something as magnificent as this. Each figure of Spider-Man took over 50 hours to create and comprises 197 parts. Can you believe the kind of hard work involved in creating this Marvel Masterpiece? It starts with cutting the silhouette from a block of white gold using a CNC machine. Then, the suit of Spider-Man was laser-engraved to create a fine texture. Post this; a single artisan did all the finishing and touch-ups by hand, making each timepiece unique and one-of-a-kind.
In terms of finishing, the case receives sand-blasting, satin-brushing and mirror-polishing. These alternating finishing techniques create a fascinating gradient of grey, ensuring the surfaces reflect light in different ways. The artisan accentuates the contrasts and shadows to give our beloved Spider-Man more prominence.
Looking from the above, you can see the incredible detailing achieved through the final hand-painting step that gives even more perspective to the figurine. Turn around the watch and see between the words ‘Pieces’ and ‘Concept’ on the sloped rehaut of the case back. You could see the Spider-Man’s feet set into the movement.
Picture Courtesy: Audemarspiguet.com
But why is it a Royal Oak ‘Concept Tourbillon’?
Well, we had this question too. AP’s Royal Oak is an absolute icon, and you cannot mess with an icon in size or thickness. Then the Royal Oak ‘Offshore’ offers a sporty and bold aesthetic. But when it comes to Royal Oak ‘Concept’, AP is always willing to include new things, stretch inhibitions and create something futuristic. And hence, it goes all out with the Concept.
Picture Courtesy: Audemarspiguet.com
Raising funds for a charity
Remember when Spider-Man said, ‘With great power comes great responsibility’? That’s what AP has tried to do with the new Marvel release. It gave a charitable twist by releasing an exclusive Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon ‘Black Spider-Man’ watch to raise funds for non-profit organisations- First Book and Ashoka. The nonprofits work to empower young people to welcome positive changes.
It’s a unique black-on-black Spider-Man piece, and the Swiss Maison has gone all out with innovation. The case is white gold, and the Spidey poses the same with a laser-engraved leg motif filled with lumed ceramic material. The Spider-Man is dressed in the iconic Symbiote suit, specially referred to as the ‘Black Suit’ by AP. There's a large luminous spider in white on the chest of Spider-Man, which along with the luminous eyes, creates a fantastic visual effect. It features black bridges with a tourbillon at 6 o’clock, is powered by the new in-house Calibre 2974 and offers a notable power reserve of 72 hours.
FINAL THOUGHTS
What do you think of this collaboration? Luxury watchmaking marries comic books. Are you sceptical or consider it a brave move? Given the limited availability of only 250 pieces, this Audemars Piguet watch has already stepped into the realm of collectability.
Moving forward, we really do hope to see some female characters showing up at some point in the future...
Picture Courtesy: Audemarspiguet.com
Specifications Overview:
- Brand: Audemars Piguet
- Model: Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Spider-Man
- Reference Number: 26631IO.OO.D002CA.01
- Case Diameter: 42mm
- Case Material: Titanium
- Dial: Open-worked dial with Spider-Man miniature in hand-painted gold
- Crystal: Sapphire Crystal
- Case Back: Exhibition case back
- Movement: New AP Calibre 2974, Manual Winding
- Strap: Black & Grey or Black & Red with AP folding clasp
- Water-Resistance: 50m (screw-down crown)
- Power Reserve: 72 hours
- Functions: Hours, Minutes & Tourbillon
- Availability: Limited to 250 pieces
Also Read: Audemars Piguet Releases 5 'NEW' Tourbillon Watches
