Tamara Ralph and Audemars Piguet join creative forces to debut a new limited-edition timepiece – a flying tourbillon that’s a ticking extension of couture.
Photo: Courtesy Tamara Ralph and Audemars Piguet
Swiss haute horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet and couture designer Tamara Ralph unveiled the new Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon limited edition during Tamara Ralph’s Spring 2024 show in Paris. Born from a shared commitment to craftsmanship, this collaboration embodies the seamless fusion of ancestral expertise with modern techniques and celebrates the natural synergies between haute horlogerie and haute couture.
Photo: Courtesy Tamara Ralph and Audemars Piguet
Back in 2020, Audemars Piguet partnered with designer Tamara Ralph, pairing several of its watches with her Spring 2021 Prêt-à-Porter collection. “I am so fortunate to have a longstanding relationship with the incredible Audemars Piguet brand,” shares Ralph. “We have been discussing the possibility of collaborating on a watch design for some time, so it’s wonderful to see it now coming to fruition.” As a client of Audemars Piguet, Ralph has always had a deep admiration for the brand. For the designer, their watches are timeless and unique, and she loves that they consistently push the boundaries of watchmaking – in terms of both style and technique – but without compromising on their brand pillars.
Both haute horlogerie and haute couture share a foundation of uncompromising craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a savoir-faire paired with a unique and distinctive design aesthetic, notes Ralph. “My brand, and that of Audemars Piguet, are built upon and centered around the same aforementioned pillars – elegance, innovation, and true luxury,” she affirms.
Tamara Ralph: Photo: Courtesy Tamara Ralph
The tests of transitioning her creativity from couture to watch design didn’t overwhelm Ralph. “I suppose the most challenging aspect was simply designing a watch, as this is new territory for me as a designer, however, I very much enjoyed pushing myself creatively to do so and likewise, push the team at Audemars Piguet into new creative and technical directions,” she admits. “We very much leveraged each other’s different spheres of expertise and design aesthetics, to ultimately create something beautiful from all angles, and entirely unique.” In a limited edition of 102 pieces, The Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon “Tamara Ralph” showcases an 18ct pink gold case adorned with frosted gold. Powered by the hand-wound Calibre 2964, the timepiece combines tradition with modernity. Its multi-layered dial takes inspiration from the bold femininity and textured detailing of Tamara Ralph’s Couture creations. Water resistant to 20m, it comes with a bronze-toned, hand-stitched large square scale alligator strap.
Photo: Courtesy Audemars Piguet
Ralph approached the design of the new Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon limited edition in much the same way as she would do for a piece of haute couture, given the fact that both require enormous attention to detail and often painstaking technique. “Fortunately, I had the incredible guidance of and collaboration with the Audemars Piguet team,” says Ralph. When creating the timepiece, her core inspiration was the notion of cognac, gold tones, nudes, and rose golds, which are for the designer elegant and timeless shades. Ralph mixed metals and materials to create this couture-inspired limited edition of the flying tourbillon, incorporating the ornate foundation that is symbolic of watchmaking, which can be played with in terms of textures, colors, and designs, allowing the savoir-faire of couture to be applied. Rich materials, unique color palettes, and master craftsmanship were combined for a seamless finish. “I wanted the design to represent both brands and for the customer to experience excellence at every touchpoint,” explains Ralph. The resulting palette of shades and mixed materials embodies sophistication, elegance, and bold femininity.
Photo: Courtesy Audemars Piguet
While the watch is very much designed to complement Ralph’s collections, the designer drew inspiration from her new brand and her debut collection – which she believes revealed an evolution of herself as a designer. “Whereas I was previously quite well known for very feminine, soft, romantic, and ethereal designs, my new brand – and collection – unveiled something entirely different, a much bolder femininity. With elements of modernity juxtaposed with the old-world nature and techniques synonymous with haute couture, the result is a much stronger, confident, and unapologetic aesthetic,” reveals Ralph.
Photo: Courtesy Tamara Ralph and Audemars Piguet
Out of all the incredible collections from Audemars Piguet, the Royal Oak Concept has a special place in Ralph’s heart and serves as her inspiration when it comes time to collaborate on a design. “The Royal Oak concept is iconic and a true representation of modernity,” she says. “I especially love the refined hand-polished and satin-brushed finishes, which lend themselves to a clean design, but one that is still incredibly intricate and crafted with the highest standards of true craftsmanship.”
As for the future, Ralph hints at more collaborations between herself and Audemars Piguet. “Watch this space!” she teases, leaving the door open for the partnership to continue.
