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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph 50th Anniversary 41MM Ceramic
Ref. 26240CE.OO.1225CE.02
Sits in Audemars Piguet’s upper tier here — more premium than three quarters of the Audemars Piguet watches we list, which start at £17,950.
Price range £17,950 to £120,900 across 11 Audemars Piguet watches in stock.The Royal Oak Chronograph in its current 26240 form marks a deliberate break from what came before it. Where its predecessor, the 26331, relied on a movement sourced from F. Piguet, this generation carries the wholly in-house Calibre 4401 — a flyback chronograph built around a column wheel and vertical clutch, which together account for the clean, positive feel of the pushers and the absence of the second-hand jump that plagued earlier integrated chronographs. The 70-hour reserve is a practical gain over the older movement, and the exhibition caseback makes the architecture visible rather than theoretical. This ceramic variant, dressed entirely in black with pink gold markers and hands, was produced to mark fifty years of the Royal Oak. Ceramic does specific things to a watch of this size. At 145.57 grams on the wrist, it is meaningfully lighter than the steel or gold versions of the same case, and the material's resistance to surface marking means the satin-brushed flanks of the octagonal case will hold their texture through years of contact that would have a steel bracelet showing scuffs within months. The pink gold against that deep black dial is a quieter contrast than it sounds — in dim light the applied markers and hands carry the lume load without fanfare, and in strong light the polished bevels catch and release without overwhelming the Grande Tapisserie texture beneath them. The titanium folding clasp is the one element in this otherwise all-ceramic construction that reminds you how difficult it is to machine ceramic to tight tolerances at every component — titanium here is a structural choice, not a shortcut, and the push-button release operates with the same precision the rest of the watch implies.
- Reference
- 26240CE.OO.1225CE.02
- Brand
- Audemars Piguet
- Collection
- Royal Oak
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 12.4mm
- Case material
- Ceramic
- Case shape
- Octagonal
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 4401
- Functions
- Chronograph, Date, Small seconds
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Ceramic bracelet
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 51.5mm
- Power reserve
- 70 hours
- Weight
- 145.57g
Learn more about Audemars Piguet
Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet, both from the Vallée de Joux, formalised their partnership in 1875. The valley was then the centre of complicated movement work, and the pair spent their early decades supplying calibres to other houses — Tiffany among them — rather than selling under their own name.
The firm remains privately held by descendants of the founding families, an unusual survival in an industry consolidated into three or four groups.
Its defining moment came in 1972, in the depths of the quartz crisis, when Audemars Piguet released the Royal Oak: a steel watch priced above gold ones, with an octagonal bezel, exposed screws, and an integrated bracelet, drawn by Gérald Genta reportedly overnight. It was widely mocked at launch. It created the luxury sports watch category and now underpins the entire company.
The Royal Oak Offshore of 1993 pushed the same design larger and louder, and drew similar early scepticism before becoming a pillar in its own right. The Code 11.59 collection, introduced in 2019, was the house's attempt to prove it could sell something else — a mixed reception commercially, though the movements inside are serious.
Underneath the modern noise, the complication pedigree is intact: minute repeaters, perpetual calendars, and some of the thinnest tourbillon movements built anywhere.
- 1875
- Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet begin working together.
- 1881
- The firm is registered as Audemars Piguet & Cie.
- 1972
- The Royal Oak launches, inventing the luxury steel sports watch.
- 1993
- The Royal Oak Offshore extends the line.
- 2019
- Code 11.59 debuts as a new collection.
Also in 7 collections
This watch appears in the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak range (11), Back in Stock (4,868), Automatic Watches (1,750), Chronograph Watches (1,199), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (369), All Black Watches (291) and Ceramic Watches (109).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 70-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- One of Audemars Piguet's more premium watches
Worth knowing
- 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
Also seen with this model (3)
Other versions of this model, not necessarily this exact watch.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 26240CE.OO.1225CE.02 | 116758SARU | 5330G-010 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £120,900 | £119,950 | £135,000 |
| Case size | 41mm | 40mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 100m | 30m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Ceramic bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 70 hours | 48 hours | 48 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Showering yes, swimming no. 50m covers splashes and brief immersion, but a swimming stroke generates well above the pressure that figure describes.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 70 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 51.5mm, which suits wrists from roughly 17.5cm (7 inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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