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Rediscovering the Audemars Piguet Two-Tone Royal Oak 15400 Rediscovering the Audemars Piguet Two-Tone Royal Oak 15400

Rediscovering the Audemars Piguet Two-Tone Royal Oak 15400

James Robinson

Editor’s note: With so much attention and speculation surrounding the all-steel variants of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak 15400 and now 15500, it’s easy to forget that the Holy Trinity watchmaker also offers their most prized timepiece in two-tone steel and 18k Pink Gold. And while it’s easy to comprehend why the stainless steel variants are so highly revered, there’s something of an old-world charm about the way the two-tone iteration goes about its business — it’s antiquated … but in a good way. A couple of years ago, we were lucky enough to slide one of these mixed metal marvels onto our wrist, and these were our first thoughts.

Audemars Piguet Two-Tone Royal Oak 15400

I’ve been saying for years that two-tone is making a comeback. And with the release of the Audemars Piguet Two-Tone Royal Oak, it looks like the market is finally catching up to my prediction. This watch is everything you would expect from the Genta-designed icon: classic and casual, and one of the best bracelets ever made, but this time with the added sparkle of 18k gold.

Audemars Piguet Two-Tone Royal Oak 15400

The combination of silver grand tapisserie dial, solid pink gold bezel, crown and centre links, amid brushed and bevelled stainless steel, is compelling. It’s a watch for Gordon Gekko in a post-GFC world: flashy, but not too flashy; superior to all-steel, but not rubbing your face in it; big, but not over-muscled. It’s one of those magical designs that manages to walk the line between classic and bling. And as you’d expect from a Royal Oak, it’s a dream on the wrist. The integrated bracelet, in particular, feels like butter on the wrist; it melts on, cool and smooth.

Audemars Piguet Two-Tone Royal Oak 15400

AP has been refreshing the roots of the RO line in recent years, and it’s good to see the classic two-tone combo, which was originally available on the smaller 5402, get a version in the slightly tweaked (read slightly larger) 15400 reference.

AUDERMARS PIGUET TWO-TONE SELFWINDING ROYAL OAK 15400 SPECIFICATIONS

  • MOVEMENT
  • Selfwinding Manufacture: Calibre 3120
  • Total diameter: 26.60 mm (113⁄4 lines)
  • 
Total thickness: 4.26 mm
  • 
Number of jewels: 40
  • Number of parts: 280
  • Minimal guaranteed power reserve: 60 hours
  • Frequency of balance wheel: 3Hz (= 21,600 vibrations/hour)

 

  • CASE: Stainless steel case, glare-proofed sapphire crystal and caseback, 18-carat pink gold bezel, links and screw-locked crown, water-resistant to 50m.
  • DIAL: Silver-toned dial with “Grande Tapisserie” pattern, pink gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating.
  • BRACELET: Stainless steel and 18-carat pink gold bracelet with stainless steel AP folding clasp.
  • FUNCTIONS: Hours
, Minutes, Centre seconds, Date
  • REFERENCE: 15400SR.OO.1220SR.01