Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon AMBUSH 26643TI

Audemars Piguet has never been afraid to blur the lines between traditional watchmaking and modern culture. With the Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon reference 26643TI.OO.D002CA.01, the manufacture takes that philosophy further — partnering with Yoon Ahn and Verbal, founders of the Tokyo-based fashion label AMBUSH, to produce one of the most visually striking Royal Oak Concept models ever made. It is a limited edition of just 150 pieces worldwide.

What Is the Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon x AMBUSH?

A Collaboration Beyond Branding

Luxury watch collaborations often focus on placing a designer’s name on a dial. This one operates differently. Yoon Ahn and Verbal — the founders of AMBUSH — were deeply involved in shaping the watch’s visual language rather than lending it a signature. Their influence is visible throughout: in the minimalist architecture, the monochromatic palette, and the deliberate use of red as a symbolic design element. For a Royal Oak Concept, that level of external creative input is a meaningful departure from the collection’s usual in-house design process, and it is the reason this reference reads as an authentic collaboration rather than a marketing exercise.

Limited to 150 Pieces Worldwide

Production is capped at 150 examples worldwide — a figure that places the AMBUSH Royal Oak Concept among the more genuinely exclusive Concept references AP has produced. For collectors who follow the Royal Oak Concept collection specifically, the combination of a first-of-its-kind design element, an authentic external collaboration, and a production run this limited is the profile of a reference that tends to be reappraised upward over time rather than down.

Case Design: 38.5mm Titanium, the Smallest Concept to Date

A Smaller Concept with Full Presence

For years, the Royal Oak Concept collection has been defined by oversized cases and futuristic styling. This release takes a different approach. The watch is housed in a 38.5mm titanium case — making it the smallest Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon AP has ever produced. The reduction in case size is a significant change for the collection: it brings the Concept’s bold architectural design into proportions that a far wider range of collectors can actually wear comfortably, without diluting the visual impact the Concept line is built around.

Titanium Construction and Black Ceramic Crown

Lightweight titanium construction, paired with a black ceramic crown and AP’s signature octagonal bezel, gives the watch an unusually comfortable feel while preserving the architectural boldness that defines the Concept collection. Titanium’s weight advantage over steel or gold is particularly relevant on a complicated watch worn daily — and daily wearability is, unusually for a flying tourbillon, an explicit part of this reference’s design brief.

Dial Design: Aventurine Night Sky, Red Flying Tourbillon

The Black Aventurine Dial

The dial is the reference’s most immediate visual statement. Instead of a traditional open-worked display, Audemars Piguet uses a shimmering black aventurine dial that resembles a star-filled night sky. Suspended above this sparkling backdrop are angular bridges that reveal portions of the movement while maintaining a clean architectural appearance. The aventurine surface is an unusual material choice within the Royal Oak Concept collection — one that shifts the reference away from the mechanical-industrial aesthetic that usually defines the line and toward something closer to artistic expression.

The First Red Anodised Flying Tourbillon Cage

At 6 o’clock sits the true centrepiece: a bright red flying tourbillon cage. According to the designers, the vibrant red is intended to symbolise energy and the origin of time itself, providing a dramatic contrast against the otherwise monochromatic design. It is the first red anodised flying tourbillon cage Audemars Piguet has ever produced — a genuine first for the manufacture and the single detail that most directly distinguishes this reference from every other Royal Oak Concept in the collection’s history.

Movement: Manufacture Calibre 2982 — Hand-Wound Flying Tourbillon

A New Calibre Built on the 2964 Architecture

Powering the watch is the newly developed calibre 2982 — a hand-wound manufacture movement created specifically for this collaborative edition. Building on the architecture of the calibre 2964, the 2982 introduces refined open-worked bridges and enhanced finishing while maintaining the clean, modern aesthetic that defines the Royal Oak Concept family. The movement is visible through both the front and back sapphire crystals, showcasing AP’s ability to combine traditional haute horlogerie finishing with contemporary industrial design in a single object.

Movement Specifications

Specification

Detail

Calibre

AP 2982, hand-wound

Base architecture

Calibre 2964

Complication

Flying tourbillon

Architecture

Partially skeletonised

Power reserve

72 hours

Finishing

Hand-finished bridges + bevels

Caseback

Everyday Wearability & Interchangeable Straps

A Practical Tourbillon

Unlike many highly complicated tourbillons, the Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon is engineered for practical daily wear. The titanium construction keeps the watch lightweight, and AP equips it with the brand’s interchangeable strap system — allowing owners to swap between the supplied black, red, and grey rubber straps without tools. That versatility gives the watch multiple identities: understated monochrome on the grey or black strap, bold contemporary statement on the red. For a limited-edition tourbillon, the tool-free strap system and 50-metre water resistance make this a Concept that can actually be worn rather than only displayed.

Full Specifications — Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon 26643TI.OO.D002CA.01

Specification

Detail

Brand

Audemars Piguet

Royal Oak Concept

Reference

26643TI.OO.D002CA.01

Collaboration

AMBUSH (Yoon Ahn & Verbal)

Limited edition

150 pieces worldwide

Case

Titanium, black ceramic crown

Diameter

38.5mm

Bezel

Octagonal

Dial

Black aventurine

Tourbillon

Red anodised flying cage at 6

Movement

Manufacture calibre 2982, hand-wound

Functions

Hours, minutes, flying tourbillon

Power reserve

72 hours

Water resistance

50m / 5 ATM

Straps

Rubber — black, red, grey (tool-free)

Why the AMBUSH Royal Oak Concept Matters

Innovation Through Collaboration and Artistic Vision

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon demonstrates that innovation is not limited to movement engineering — it can also come through collaboration and artistic vision. The first red anodised tourbillon cage in AP’s history, the aventurine dial, and the smallest Concept case ever produced are each individually significant; together, and shaped by genuine external creative input, they produce a reference that stands apart from the conventional Royal Oak Concept output. For collectors seeking something beyond the standard Royal Oak, this is among the most original AP releases of the year.

A First-of-Its-Kind Reference in a Limited Run

The combination of a technical first, an authentic design collaboration, a downsized and more wearable case, and a 150-piece production cap gives the AMBUSH Royal Oak Concept a collector profile that is difficult to replicate. It is a watch that carries a story — of creativity, craftsmanship, and collaboration — while remaining, in titanium with a tool-free strap system, a tourbillon that can genuinely be lived with. For the Concept collector specifically, it is one of the most memorable references the line has produced.

Available at Black Tag Watches — Aventura, Florida

Black Tag Watches is a luxury watch specialist based in Aventura, FL, offering new and pre-owned timepieces from Audemars Piguet and the world’s leading Swiss manufactures.

A 38.5mm titanium Royal Oak Concept with a red flying tourbillon — where haute horlogerie meets contemporary design, limited to 150 pieces.