Minute-Repeater History: Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Concept Supersonnerie

As Global Brand Ambassador, Claudio Cavaliere speaks about in the video above, the Royal Oak Concept Supersonnerie is the best iteration of what is Audemars Piguet’s long history with the minute repeater dating back to the 17th century. Listening to the larger pocket watch’s sound, which is dated near 1893, the wearer would be able to hear the movement’s acoustics as well as the minute repeater. Moving ahead, the next timepiece (pictured below) gets rid of the movement’s noise, but the sound is incredibly soft, which asks the question, “Why does someone need a minute repeater if you can’t even hear it?” Well, in 2016 Audemars lets the watch world know the minute repeater is not a thing of the past. The Supersonnerie gets rid of the movement’s acoustics and has a strong and precise noise for its minute repeater. What truly creates an incredible noise is the fact the caseback serves as almost a sounding board, so the sound travels far and retains its volume.

Vintage Minute Repeater, All photos by Anne Ruthmann

Presented in a super-light titanium case, the Royal Oak Concept Supersonnerie brings an unprecedented acoustic sound quality to the world of watchmaking.

Royal Oak Concept Supersonnerie

The harmonic tone of pocket-watches is placed in a contemporary minute repeater watch. The 44-millimeter titanium case is powered by the hand-wound Manufacture Caliber 2937 with extreme reliability. The watch’s functions include the minute repeater on two gongs, tourbillon, chronograph, 30-minute counter, hours and minutes.

Audemars Piguet Sound Lab at Timecrafters 2016

The open-worked dial reveals the movement, while also showing off the black counters, white gold hands and black inner bezel. The watch is placed on a black rubber strap with a titanium AP folding clasp. The watch is priced at $597,400.