The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo RD#5 is the watchmaker's answer to the question no one dared to ask: how do you squeeze a flying tourbillon, flyback chronograph, and peripheral rotor into a classic 39mm case while maintaining a slim 8.1mm profile? The result is a limited edition of 150 pieces that is not only a tribute to the brand's 150th anniversary, but also a watchmaker's demonstration of power: the new caliber 8100, the innovative use of titanium and Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG), ergonomics inspired by smartphone buttons, and a patented rack-and-pinion chronograph reset that makes it all smoother than British humor. Whether you're a collector, a snob, or simply an admirer of watchmaking, the RD#5 is the watchmaker's equivalent of astrophysics - almost impossible, but stunning in practice.
If you've ever wanted to wear watchmaking lab madness on your wrist - without looking like Tony Stark - then Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo RD#5 what you were looking for. Audemars Piguet has created a watch for its 150th anniversary that is both a tribute to history and a manifesto for the future. Why? Because for the first time in history, it has packed into the classic, almost ascetic case of the Royal Oak Jumbo a combination that would make even the most experienced watchmaker cry with joy (or despair). Welcome to a world where “simple” is actually synonymous with “deadly complicated”.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo RD#5 in numbers and materials
Dimensions: 39 mm x 8.1 mm (yes, you read that right – thinner than your smartphone).
Material: Housing made of titanium and BMG (Bulk Metallic Glass, a palladium-based alloy).
Glass: Sapphire front and back, with anti-reflective treatment.
Waterproof: 20 meters (which is enough to bring tears to the eyes of jealous collectors).
Limited Edition: 150 pieces, each engraved “1 of 150”.
Alt text for the cover image: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo RD#5 – view of the titanium and BMG case with blue dial.
Technical Magic: The New Caliber 8100 and Innovation
Brand new caliber 8100
- Mechanism thickness: 4mm
- Number of parts: 379
- Power reserve: 72 hours
- Frequency: 21,600 vibrations/hour (3 Hz)
- Rotor: peripheral, first time in Royal Oak Jumbo
A chronograph you've never seen before
Instead of the classic hammer-and-cam system (which has been standard in the watchmaking industry since the 19th century), AP has developed a rack-and-pinion reset. This means that the pushers are pressed with the same ease as the volume button on an iPhone. Resetting the chronograph is lightning fast (under 0.15 seconds) and without the “finger-breaking” feeling.
Flyback function: You can reset and restart the chronograph with a single press – no fuss, just elegance.
Flying tourbillon
They took the ultra-thin flying tourbillon from the RD#3, using titanium for the cage, which reduces weight and increases stability.
Ergonomic crown
Instead of a classic pull-out, the RD#5 has an innovative system: pressing a button in the crown switches between time settings and winding, with a red indicator for clarity.
User Experience: When the Chronograph Clicks Like an iPhone
Lucas Raggi and Giulio Papi, the masterminds behind AP, have admitted that they drew inspiration from “frustration with modern chronographs” and “soft buttons on old watches” when developing the pushers. The result: the pushers require 10-25 times less force than a classic chronograph, the travel is minimal, and the feedback is almost digital – but with all the mechanical soul you’d expect from AP.
Design: A classic that is not afraid of experimentation
The dial is in the famous blue “Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50” with a “petite tapisserie” pattern, two sunken chronograph subdials and a massive “Audemars Piguet” inscription in a retro font that divides opinions – some are enthusiastic, others would rather stick with the classic logo. The hour and minute hands are made of white gold, while the chronograph hands are made of titanium.
Who, why and for how much?
Price: CHF 260,000 (approximately EUR 261,000, excluding tax).
Where: Only in AP boutiques. Limited to 150...
Why: Because you can and because you want to be part of watchmaking history.
Conclusion: Why the RD#5 will remain a legend
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo RD#5 is more than just a watch. It is a manifesto of watchmaking innovation, a technological tour de force, and a collector's item that will stir the imagination for decades to come. When people wonder how AP managed to cram so many technical marvels into such a slim profile, the answer will be simple: because they knew how, wanted to, and dared. And that is what separates the legend from the average.
