The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept is the brand's experimental offshoot of the Royal Oak: a line of sculpted, openworked watches that keep the octagonal bezel and eight screws but swap the steel-and-bracelet formula for titanium, ceramic, carbon or gold, rubber straps and complicated movements, most often a tourbillon. It began in 2002 and has run alongside the classic Royal Oak ever since. Bizak & Co. is a sourcing desk, not an authorised Audemars Piguet retailer, and every watch here is sourced to order rather than held in stock.
Last reviewed on October 28, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Sources: Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT and Swisswatches Magazine, 20 years of the Royal Oak Concept. Reference numbers and dates for older pieces are reported differently across sources, so confirm any specific watch against its papers.
What is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept?
It is a sub-collection where Audemars Piguet tests ideas that would not fit the standard Royal Oak. The brief is design and technical freedom: skeletonised dials, bold case shapes and unusual materials, with the Royal Oak's eight-screw octagonal bezel as the visual anchor. Many Concept models carry a tourbillon, and several add a second time zone. Because the line is a showcase for technique, production is generally lower-volume than the core Royal Oak range, and sizes run larger and more architectural.
When was the Royal Oak Concept introduced?
The Concept debuted in 2002 as a tribute to the 30th anniversary of the original Royal Oak, which dates from 1972. The first model, often called the CW1, paired an openworked tourbillon with a case in Alacrite 602, a cobalt-based alloy. Later generations moved to forged carbon, titanium, ceramic and precious metals. Dates for the middle years vary between sources, which is why the table below describes each model by what it is rather than by a single launch year.
How does the Royal Oak Concept differ from the Royal Oak?
The Royal Oak is the 1972 icon, a steel sports watch with an integrated bracelet; the Concept is a modern reinterpretation built around materials and mechanics. The classic watch is a restrained, finished-to-the-millimeter design, while the Concept is a looser, more sculptural take with an open dial. Neither is a replacement for the other: they answer different tastes.
| Feature | Royal Oak | Royal Oak Concept |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Designed by Gerald Genta, launched 1972 | Introduced 2002 for the 30th anniversary |
| Bezel | Octagonal with eight screws | Octagonal bezel and screws, reinterpreted in new materials |
| Typical materials | Steel, gold, titanium and other metals | Titanium, ceramic, carbon, white and rose gold |
| Dial | Usually closed, with the tapisserie pattern on many models | Often openworked or skeletonised |
| Strap or bracelet | Integrated metal bracelet is the signature | Rubber strap on most examples |
| Complications | Simple to extra-thin and perpetual calendar | Frequently tourbillon, sometimes with GMT or chronograph |
If you want the everyday icon, start with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak collection. If you want the technical showpiece, the Concept is the one to look at.
What are the key Royal Oak Concept references?
Four reference families account for most of the Concept's best-known models: the original tourbillon (CW1), the GMT tourbillon, the flying tourbillon and the flying tourbillon GMT. The table lists the ones we can source and what defines them. Case sizes are as published by the brand or in the cited reports; check the exact reference before relying on a figure.
| Reference | Model | Materials | What defines it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Oak Concept CW1, 2002 | Original Concept CW1 | Alacrite 602 and titanium | 2002 debut: calibre 2896 with tourbillon, dynamograph, function selector and linear power-reserve indicator |
| 26560IO.OO.D002CA.01 | Concept GMT Tourbillon | Titanium with a black ceramic bezel | Tourbillon plus second time zone |
| 26589IO.OO.D056CA.01 | Concept Flying Tourbillon GMT, 44 mm | Sandblasted titanium with ceramic | Flying tourbillon with GMT; reported power reserve of about ten days |
| 26620IO.OO.D077CA.01 | Concept Black Panther Flying Tourbillon (Marvel), 42 mm, 2021 | Titanium with a black ceramic bezel | Limited to 250 pieces; hand-engraved, hand-painted 3D white gold Black Panther figure on the dial; hand-wound calibre 2965 with a 72-hour power reserve |
| 26227BC.ZZ.D011CR.01 | Concept Flying Tourbillon, women's-size | White gold with diamonds | Gem-set case, openworked dial, about 38.5 mm |
You can browse the current range in our Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept collection or the wider Royal Oak Concept watches, including the Flying Tourbillon 26589IO and the 42 mm 26620IO.
What is a flying tourbillon, and why does the Concept use it?
A flying tourbillon is a rotating escapement cage supported from one side only, so the dial shows no upper bridge across it. That open view suits the Concept's skeleton aesthetic, and it is why the flying version is the signature of the modern line. Audemars Piguet has also used the Concept to develop acoustic watchmaking: its Supersonnerie minute repeater was shown in concept form before reaching series production. Published reference numbers for those Supersonnerie pieces conflict between sources, so treat any figure you see as something to confirm against the watch's papers.
What should you check before buying a Royal Oak Concept?
- The exact reference. Concept references differ by one dial or strap code, and each variant has its own size and material.
- Box, papers and service history. Tourbillon movements are intricate, so a documented service record matters.
- Case condition. Titanium, ceramic and carbon wear differently from steel; look for chips on ceramic and marks on the sandblasted finish.
- Strap and clasp. Confirm the original rubber strap and folding clasp are included.
- Authenticity. Our authenticity page sets out what we check and what our buyer-protection terms cover.
For the rest of the brand, see the full Audemars Piguet collection.
Quick answers
What is the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept?
It is Audemars Piguet's experimental line built on the Royal Oak's octagonal design. Models use materials such as titanium, ceramic, carbon and gold, often with openworked dials and tourbillon movements, and are usually worn on rubber straps.
When did the Royal Oak Concept come out?
The line started in 2002 to mark 30 years of the Royal Oak. The first model, the CW1, was a tourbillon with a dynamograph, function selector and linear power-reserve indicator in an Alacrite 602 case, and the line has grown with new materials and complications since.
Is the Royal Oak Concept the same as the Royal Oak Offshore?
No. The Offshore is a larger, sportier Royal Oak with a rugged chronograph or diver character, while the Concept is the avant-garde, tourbillon-focused line. They are separate collections.
Does Bizak & Co. keep Royal Oak Concept watches in stock?
No. Bizak & Co. sources each watch to order. We confirm the specific unit, photographs and final price before you commit, so nothing on this page is a stock listing.
Related reading
Continue with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak guide, the Royal Oak vs Royal Oak Offshore comparison, the Royal Oak tourbillon guide or the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph guide.
Get your Audemars Piguet sourced
Tell us the model, size, dial and strap preference, whether you want new or pre-owned, and your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs and final price before you commit, so you can decide against a real target.
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