When Time Turns Blue

In a world where time is always ticking, Audemars Piguet takes a moment to reflect with clarity, intention and colour. This year, the Swiss watchmaker celebrates fifty years of its signature Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 dial, first introduced in 1972 with the original Royal Oak. To mark the occasion, the maison presents three new timepieces across the Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore collections, each centred around this now-iconic shade of deep, clouded blue.

Developed by renowned dial maker Stern Frères, the Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 hue was created through a galvanic bath containing cobalt salts, producing a rich night-blue tone with a near-mystical finish. The addition of “Nuage 50,” a term coined by AP’s own workshops, referred to a specific component in the process that softened and diffused the final result. The colour has since become inseparable from the Royal Oak’s visual identity.

Among the three releases, the Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked in 18-carat white gold commands attention through transparency and technique. Its hand-finished architecture reveals the openworked Calibre 2972, framed by a smoked Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 inner bezel that adds both depth and drama. Mirror-polished angles and satin-brushed surfaces highlight the geometry of the case and bracelet, striking a visual rhythm between mechanical function and sculptural form.

The Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin, also in white gold, is a tribute to the original Royal Oak that introduced the Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 dial. It features the classic Petite Tapisserie pattern with a smoked blue gradient, created today using PVD technology to ensure stability and consistency. Powered by the Calibre 7121, this model upholds the purity of the “Jumbo” silhouette, with its slim case and refined proportions.

Completing the trio is the Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Chronograph in stainless steel. This reference is fitted with a Mega Tapisserie dial in Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50, energised by white gold hour markers and contrasting counters. Measuring 42mm, the watch blends robust construction with elevated detailing, from the polished bevels to the textured rubber crown and push-pieces. Inside, the selfwinding flyback chronograph Calibre 4404 is visible through the sapphire caseback, adding technical allure to its bold profile.

All three models are fitted with dedicated inscriptions on the caseback, commemorating the 50th anniversary of this landmark colour. They honour a visual code that shaped modern watch design, while reasserting Audemars Piguet’s instinct for expression through craft and colour.