Audemars Piguet's Mini Royal Oak leads the pack in the small watches trend

In a dazzling return to its roots of creating dainty women’s watches, Audemars Piguet has unveiled the new Mini Royal Oak collection, featuring a trio of miniature quartz models measuring just 23mm in diameter. 

Available in yellow, white, or pink gold, these timekeepers are not just a revival but a reimagining of Audemars Piguet's iconic designs. The "Mini Oak" collection draws inspiration from the 20mm Mini Royal Oak launched in 1997, enhancing its predecessor’s legacy by rethinking the proportions, architecture, and design to suit modern tastes.

They blend the robust aesthetic codes of the Royal Oak, designed by Gérald Genta in 1972, with the shimmering sophistication of Frosted Gold, a finish inspired by an ancient Florentine jewellery technique.

Adapted by jewellery designer Carolina Bucci and Audemars Piguet artisans in 2016, it involves making tiny indentations on the gold surface using a diamond-tipped tool, creating a sparkling effect similar to that of precious stones.

Ode to the ladies

As one of the few female leaders in the watchmaking industry, Audemars Piguet CEO Ilaria Resta says, “These mini creations pay tribute not only to our long tradition of miniature and jewellery watches but also to the women who have left their mark on the history of the brand, including Jacqueline Dimier, to whom we owe the first Royal Oak for women, and Carolina Bucci, the mastermind behind the Frosted Gold finish.” 

Audemars Piguet's history with small watches is rich and storied. Since the 19th century, the brand has created many petite models for women, pushing the boundaries of miniaturisation, gem-setting, and aesthetic refinement. Its early feminine creations showcased extremely small, complicated mechanisms fitted in elegant, often gem-set pieces. 

These timepieces served as a platform for innovation, developing miniature movements such as the world’s smallest 5-minute repeater movement in 1921 and the smallest baguette-style movement in 1927.

This legacy continued with the introduction of the groundbreaking Royal Oak in 1972 and its subsequent adaptation for women by Jacqueline Dimier in 1976.

Shine like a jewel

The new Mini Royal Oaks combine the diamond-dust effect of the Frosted Gold with polished bevels that outline the distinctive octagonal bezel and individual links of the tapering bracelet, creating an endless play of light.

The satin finish on the case and bracelet flanks adds depth and texture, while the solid caseback features a meticulous juxtaposition of finishing techniques that require perfect alignment throughout.

The dial continues the jewellery aesthetic with a tone-on-tone Petite Tapisserie pattern that intensifies the watch’s shimmer. Faceted gold hour markers filled with luminescent material ensure optimal visibility in the dark, while the Audemars Piguet signature at 12 o’clock enhances legibility.

True to their origins, the timepieces omit the date indication and seconds scale to maintain the refinement of the guilloché dial.

Powered by the Calibre 2730 quartz movement, they offer a battery life of over seven years, ideal for contemporary lifestyles. The quartz mechanism, finished with refined decorations in keeping with high horology traditions, includes a “switch” feature that allows the wearer to deactivate the battery temporarily by pulling on the crown.

Sebastian Vivas, the manufacture’s heritage and museum director, emphasises this mini line’s contribution to the esteemed status of the Royal Oak family. “Small, charming, creative, and almost frivolous, the new Royal Oak Mini watches revive a feminine myth born in 1997. They demonstrate the extraordinary plasticity of the Royal Oak collection, which transcends decades, gender, trends, and dimensions.”