Following the Royal Oak Concept “Black Panther” Flying Tourbillon, which launched in 2021, this second collaboration with Marvel features Spider-Man, one of Marvel’s most popular superheroes. Marvel’s Spider-Man unites a large community of fans around the world while promoting family and community values.
The Super Hero quickly became a pop culture phenomenon after appearing in comics, video games, consumer products, and more. After more than sixty years since his debut, Audemars Piguet and Marvel are pleased to pay tribute to this amazing icon.
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Presented in a 42 mm titanium case contrasted with a black ceramic bezel and crown, the openworked movement of the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider-Man” appears as the hero of this timepiece. Based on the Calibre 2948, the new hand-wound Calibre 2974 required all the openworking expertise of Audemars Piguet’s engineers, watchmakers, and craftspeople for this timepiece to see the light of day.
By reducing the architecture of the movement to the bare minimum, they have been able to achieve a level of transparency that allows Spider-Man’s character to appear in a three- dimensional form as if suspended in the void through the sapphire crystal. The silhouette and volume of the character are first cut from a block of white gold using a CNC machine.
The superhero’s suit is then laser-engraved to obtain the differences in texture that give it its textile appearance. This operation requires complex machine programming and many tests to obtain the desired result. After this step, touch-ups and engraving-related finishings are meticulously done by hand by a single artisan, making each piece unique.
The character is ultimately hand-painted to give him his recognizable two-tone aesthetic, contrasting matt red and metallic blue. During this stage, the painter emphasizes shadows and contrasts to give Spider-Man even more perspective. Extending across the entire thickness of the watch, the Super Hero alone requires no less than 50 hours of work, pushing the limits of the craftsmanship of the artisans in Le Brassus.
The dial is composed of alternating black PVD-coated gold hour-markers and Arabic numerals that are overlaid by hands designed in the same material. All have a polished finish and are enhanced with a white luminescence that turns blue in the dark, subtly referring to the world of Spider-Man.
The timepiece is adorned with refined decorations that are faithful to watchmaking tradition and the design codes of the Manufacture. The case alternates between polished and micro-blasted finishes on the top and bottom, while the sides are satin-finished.
The movement, however, features a range of decorations, from traits-tirés to sandblasting and polishing. Limited to 250 pieces, this model is accompanied by a unique piece called the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Black Suit Spider-Man”. This one-of-a-kind timepiece comes in a white gold case decorated with a spider leg motif.
The case is first laser-engraved to create the spider’s legs, which are then filled with luminescent hybrid ceramic. It is then polished and finely engraved by laser once more to form a spider’s web in the background. It is combined with a black ceramic bezel, with ceramic also adorning the caseback that bears the words “Royal Oak Concept Unique Piece” in white.
Spider-Man appears on the dial in a black suit, a reference to the one worn by the Super Hero in several 1980s comics, notably The Amazing Spider-Man #252 in 1984. This lesser-known representation of the character makes the piece unique and more mysterious, as does the luminescent material, which glows green in the dark, seen on the hands, hour-markers and part of the character.
This mode is equipped with an interchangeable strap system, which allows the owner of the watch to change the strap and buckle in a few simple steps. Equipped with a black and grey rubber strap and a titanium AP buckle, the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Spider-Man” comes with a second black and red rubber strap, matching the famous suit of the Marvel Super Hero.
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