Audemars Piguet Crafts Time With Yoon And Verbal (Ambush) For A Limited-Edition Royal Oak Concept
Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet is pleased to reveal a new Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon imagined in collaboration with Yoon and Verbal – two creative minds who bridge multiple fields and cultural landscapes spanning fashion, music and design. Executed in titanium, this 38.5 mm limited edition of 150 pieces combines a shimmering black aventurine dial with a vivid red tourbillon for a bold, yet minimalist, interpretation of the collection’s forward-thinking aesthetic. Shaped by the power of collective creativity, the design showcases a versatile visual identity that reflects both Yoon and Verbal’s personal journey, while embodying the Manufacture’s commitment to pushing the limits of self-expression through uncompromising craftsmanship. At its core, Calibre 2982 reveals its energy in motion through a partly openworked architecture, offering a closer look at the mechanics of time and expressing a deliberate return to what is essential.
“Creativity is always in motion. You keep evolving, regenerating, moving forward, so the design of this limited edition had to follow that energy. For me, it was about balance, about creating something truly universal that anyone could connect with.” Yoon Ahn Ambush Co-Founder and Creative Director
Believing in the power of creativity to feed culture, connect people and broaden horizons, Audemars Piguet has long looked to the larger world for inspiration. Over the years, the Manufacture has fostered enriching dialogues across disciplines with which it shares an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship, precision and excellence. By engaging with creative minds like Yoon and Verbal, the brand strengthens a collective process bringing together designers, engineers and watchmakers to elevate the everyday.
In this context, the collaboration with Yoon and Verbal brings a new perspective, shaped by their distinct artistic language and paired with the Manufacture’s enduring savoir-faire in Haute Horlogerie. Creative director Yoon Ahn is recognised for her refined eye, while Verbal, music producer and cultural entrepreneur, is celebrated for bridging communities across artistic fields – and has long nurtured a passion for watchmaking. Together, they are the driving force behind AMBUSH, a fashion label known for offering a lens defined by substance over trend while challenging conventions.
Born from collective vision, this limited edition embodies the duo’s shared journey as well as their distinct paths, while drawing on the expertise of Audemars Piguet’s designers, engineers and watchmakers. For Verbal, the very first Royal Oak Concept launched in 2002 holds particular significance. Although not his first Audemars Piguet timepiece, it is the watch he owns that he treasures the most as it symbolises the birth of the collection and embodies the defining moments he seeks as a collector.
This new Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon presents the collection’s architectural design in a compact 38.5 mm diameter. The bold geometry of the titanium case is highlighted by an alternation of sandblasted, satin-brushed and polished surfaces, while its ergonomic curvature ensures a natural and comfortable fit on all wrists. The black ceramic screw locked crown, which is topped with a titanium chip, furthers the timepiece’s choice of light and resistant materials which echo the collection’s high-tech character.
The blackened 18-carat white gold hands filled with luminescent material ensure optimal readability, while the tone-on-tone inner bezel features a contrasting minute tracker to preserve the coherence of the display. On the back of the watch, the sapphire and titanium caseback presents a clear view of the ultra-contemporary Calibre 2982. The engraved inscriptions “Audemars Piguet”, “Y/V” and “Limited Edition” affirm the collaborative nature of the timepiece.
“Red has always been a powerful colour for us, while the tourbillon cage represents the heart of the watch – the force that keeps everything in motion. Red evokes the Earth’s core: the origin point, the source of energy and, ultimately, the beginning of how we measure time itself.” Verbal Ambush Co-Founder and Music Producer
AT THE CORE OF CALIBRE 2982, For this limited edition, the tourbillon cage is executed in aluminium and framed by an anodized red top plate – a first at Audemars Piguet – introducing a decisive chromatic signature that anchors the entire composition. Positioned at 6 o’clock, the flying tourbillon becomes both a functional element and symbolic core. The timepiece’s layered architecture offers a closer look at the mechanism’s openworked barrel and part of the gear train, decorated with refined hand finishings, including microblasting, satin brushing and polished bevels. Shaped by complementary skills at every stage of its development, Calibre 2982 pairs technical refinement with visual clarity while exploring new avenues of expression.
“Audemars Piguet is built on collective energy. Working with Yoon and Verbal offers a fresh lens on the Royal Oak Concept’s intricate architecture. Their purposeful emphasis on the tourbillon and the movement’s core elements brings the mechanics of time to the fore, reflecting our shared vision to return to the essential.” Ilaria Resta Chief Executive Officer, Audemars Piguet
About Audemars Piguet, Audemars Piguet is the oldest fine watchmaking manufacturer still in the hands of its founding families (Audemars and Piguet). Based in Le Brassus since 1875, the company has nurtured generations of talented craftspeople who have continuously developed new skills and techniques, broadening their expertise to set rule-breaking trends. In the Vallée de Joux, at the heart of the Swiss Jura, Audemars Piguet has created numerous masterpieces, testament to the Manufacture’s ancestral savoir-faire and forward-thinking spirit. By pushing the boundaries of what is possible and building bridges between different creative worlds, Audemars Piguet has been able to explore new horizons and build an inspired community. www.audemarspiguet.com
About Yoon and Verbal, Based in Tokyo, Yoon Ahn and Verbal are a creative partnership whose work spans fashion, music, and contemporary culture. Yoon Ahn is a designer and creative director and Verbal is a music producer and cultural entrepreneur. Together they co-founded AMBUSH, a design studio that began with experimental jewellery and quickly evolved into a fully-fledged high fashion brand. The duo is widely recognised for their ability to move fluidly between disciplines, challenging the boundaries between high fashion, streetwear and pop culture, creating a fusion of styles and influences that resonate globally.
All images Audemars Piguet Crafts Time With Yoon And Verbal (Ambush) For A Limited-Edition by the brand. PR Agency Lucien Pages Communication.