Audemars Piguet raise $1.1m for charity with the Royal Oak “One Drop”
Fergus NashCharity auctions can often be some of the watch world’s most exciting events, as brands stretch their creativity for one-off watches that are instantly collectible. Audemars Piguet certainly delivered at the La Cuvée One Drop 2022 event with their Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph “One Drop” raising US$1.1m. Hosted in Las Vegas, the proceeds go towards The One Drop Foundation’s efforts to provide clean drinking water and sanitation to disadvantaged communities.
Based on the black ceramic version of the watch released to celebrate the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph “One Drop” is surprisingly palatable for something which is actually quite extreme. If someone were to describe the harsh, chamfered edges of the black case and bezel, with the deep blue dial brushed for matte sportiness and a blacked-out applied logo, you may have pictured quite an aggressive watch. Instead, the effect the “One Drop” has is oddly calming. Paired with its 41mm diameter and steeply angled lugs, the comfort of this watch is incredibly versatile both physically and stylistically.
The dial, usually reserved for Audemars Piguet’s Grand Tapisserie pattern of guilloché grids, features fine vertical brushing that continues the granular momentum of the case finishing. This allows the light to spread its vibrancy along the length of the watch evenly, creating a smooth gradient between blacks, greys, navy blues and powdery blues. Other unique features include equal-length hands on all of the subdials for superb symmetry, and a trapezoidal counterbalance on the chronograph’s second hand.
Powering the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph “One Drop” is the Calibre 4401, with its spectacular finishing and column wheel visible from the titanium and sapphire caseback. Ticking at a frequency of 4Hz, the 70-hour power reserve will keep the watch ticking and accurate over a weekend if you need it to.