Audemars Piguet Ceramic Royal Oak Perpetual Watch Ref. 26579CE

It would certainly not be an exaggeration to say that the world of watchmaking is filled with timepieces that have garnered a lot of hype over the last several years. Still, few have become as renowned and sought-after as the ceramic Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26579. Launched in 2017 and quickly emerging as the most desirable watch of the year, the ref. 26579 was the first ever all-ceramic timepiece, even complete with a ceramic version of the Royal Oaks famously intricate bracelet. All black as a result of its hand-finished ceramic construction, the ref. 26579 features a matching slate grey dial with the Royal Oaks Grande Tapisserie pattern a staple of the Royal Oaks aesthetic, with an aventurine moon phase display that adds a subtle pop of blue-black to the slate grey display. Measuring 41mm in diameter, the ref. 26579 is entirely modern as it combines the Royal Oaks contemporary sizing with the latest in horological material technology and one of APs finest movements, the automatic cal. 5134, which comes in at an ultra-thin 4.31mm and thus allows the ref. 26579 to measure a svelte 9.5mm thick. Incredibly light thanks to its ceramic construction and sitting flatter on the wrist than the majority of sports watches thanks to how thin it is, the ref. 26579 is an incredibly unique timepiece that has proven to deserve its praise and position as the timepiece that started the trend we are still witnessing five years later, with brands continuing to expand in ceramics like never before.