This New Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon Looks Like The Future Of Watch Design
4 min read
When two creative worlds like Audemars Piguet and AMBUSH collide, the result is rarely subtle. But the new Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon created with Yoon Ahn and Verbal is not about loud extravagance for the sake of it. Instead, it is about stripping things back to the essentials, focusing on energy, intention, and the very idea of time itself.
At first glance, the watch immediately commands attention. The vivid red flying tourbillon seems to pulse at the heart of the dial like molten lava, glowing against a shimmering black aventurine backdrop. It feels futuristic, architectural, and unmistakably Royal Oak Concept, yet there is also something deeply personal about it. That comes from the creative vision of Yoon and Verbal, the duo behind AMBUSH, who approached this collaboration not simply as a fashion crossover, but as a conversation about movement, creativity, and purpose.
For Yoon Ahn, the idea was to create something universal while still carrying a strong emotional identity. As she explains, creativity is constantly evolving and regenerating, and the watch needed to reflect that same energy in motion. That philosophy is visible throughout the piece, from the balanced use of black and red to the compact yet sculptural 38.5 mm titanium case.
And yes, compact is the key word here. The Royal Oak Concept line is known for its bold, futuristic presence, but this version brings that architectural DNA into a more wearable 38.5 mm format. Crafted entirely in titanium, the case combines sandblasted, satin-brushed, and polished surfaces that play beautifully with light. The sharp geometry remains intact, but the proportions feel more versatile and contemporary, almost like the Concept collection discovering a sleeker, more urban personality.
The real drama, however, sits at six o’clock. The red aluminium flying tourbillon immediately becomes the focal point of the watch, framed by matching red bridges that amplify the sense of motion and depth. According to Verbal, red has always been a powerful colour for the duo, symbolising the Earth’s core, the source of energy and ultimately the beginning of how humans measure time. It is a poetic interpretation for what is essentially the beating heart of the watch.
Surrounding it is a partially openworked black aventurine dial that feels almost cosmic in appearance. Tiny shimmering particles mimic a star-filled night sky, while the openworked sections offer glimpses into the mechanics beneath. Blackened 18-carat white gold hands filled with grey luminescent material ensure the display remains crisp and legible despite the visual complexity.
Turn the watch over and the sapphire caseback reveals another layer of the story. Here, the new hand-wound Calibre 2982 takes centre stage. Developed specifically for this limited edition, the movement builds upon the technical architecture of Calibre 2964, Audemars Piguet’s modern flying tourbillon calibre that merges traditional watchmaking with contemporary construction.
The movement itself feels incredibly aligned with the overall design language of the watch. It is partly openworked, highly architectural, and finished with refined hand decorations that add warmth to its otherwise high-tech appearance. The aluminium tourbillon cage not only reduces weight but also enhances precision while giving the movement a distinctly modern visual identity.
Of course, this would not be a Royal Oak Concept without an element of versatility. The watch comes fitted with Audemars Piguet’s interchangeable strap system, allowing owners to switch effortlessly between a black rubber strap and an additional red version available on demand. Both feature a textured “micro-mosaic” pattern and quilted inner lining, adding another subtle layer of detail that ties back to the collaboration’s design-driven spirit.
Technically, the watch measures 11.4 mm thick and is water resistant to 20 metres. The titanium case is paired with glareproofed sapphire crystal on both the front and back, while the crown combines black ceramic with a titanium chip for an added touch of contrast.
But beyond the specifications and materials, this collaboration succeeds because it feels genuinely cohesive. Too often, partnerships between watch brands and creative personalities can feel like branding exercises. Here, there is a clear shared philosophy running through every detail. Yoon and Verbal bring their precise and contemporary perspective, while Audemars Piguet anchors the project with centuries of craftsmanship and technical mastery.
The result is a watch that feels less like a simple limited edition and more like a creative intersection between fashion, music, design, and haute horlogerie. It is bold without being chaotic, expressive without losing focus. In many ways, it captures the spirit of modern creativity itself: constantly moving, always evolving, yet firmly rooted in purpose.
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