Such remarkable innovation is nothing new for Audemars Piguet. In 1955, the brand made history with the first perpetual calendar wristwatch with leap year indication, and broke another record in 1978 with the world’s thinnest selfwinding perpetual calendar wristwatch of its time: Calibre 2120/2800. Audemars Piguet surpassed itself yet again in 2018 with the revolutionary 41mm Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin, incorporating all the perpetual calendar functions on a single level at only 2.89mm thick. Today, Calibre 7138 breaks further boundaries with its all-in-one crown correction system – a major breakthrough in the story of perpetual calendars.
Traditionally, perpetual calendar watches are adjusted with a small tool inserted into the side of the case, an age-old approach that’s charming but (for want of a better word) fiddly. With the new Calibre 7138, all adjustments are made by the crown, allowing for greater water resistance – 50m for the Royal Oak models and 30m for Code 11.59, compared to the 20m on previous models. Despite its simplicity, the system conceals highly complex mechanics. An innovative lever and wandering wheels system that meshes with the different calendar wheels are masterclasses in seemingly effortless artistry.