Audemars Piguet just gave the Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon its first all-ceramic dress in Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50, a deep midnight blue with roots in the original 1972 Royal Oak dial.
Reference 26730CD.OO.1225CD.01 is not a limited edition. It joins the permanent Royal Oak catalog, which tells you AP thinks this color has staying power rather than novelty value.
The images in this article were generated with AI for illustration. They show a recognizable watch model based on real reference photography, but are not photographs of a specific watch for sale.
The Short Answer
- Reference 26730CD.OO.1225CD.01, announced August 3, 2026, available from August 5.
- 41mm case, 10.6mm thick, in Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 ceramic, with a matching integrated ceramic bracelet.
- Calibre 2950, AP's in-house automatic flying tourbillon movement, 65-hour power reserve.
- Not a limited edition. It joins the standing Royal Oak Selfwinding collection.
- Price is upon request. Monochrome estimates roughly CHF 210,000 based on comparable ceramic tourbillon references.
A Color With a 1972 Pedigree, Now in Full Ceramic
Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 is not a new AP color. It traces back to the dial of the original 1972 Royal Oak, reference 5402ST, the watch that started the entire Royal Oak line under Gerald Genta's design.
What is new here is the material. This is the first time AP has carried the shade across the entire watch, not just the dial. Case, bezel, crown, and bracelet are all molded and finished in matching blue ceramic.
Reference 26730CD.OO.1225CD.01. Case, bezel, crown, and bracelet all in matching Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 ceramic.
Why Ceramic Instead of Steel or Titanium
Ceramic will not scratch the way steel does on a bracelet link or a bezel edge. It also holds color and surface finish differently than metal, which is part of why AP can push the Grande Tapisserie dial pattern and the case in the exact same tone without the metallic sheen shifting the color under different light.
The tradeoff is weight and repair cost. Ceramic is lighter on the wrist than steel, but a cracked ceramic link is a full replacement, not a polish.
The Case and Bracelet
The case holds the familiar Royal Oak octagonal bezel and eight hex screws, just executed in ceramic instead of the steel or gold most Royal Oak buyers know.
- Diameter: 41mm
- Thickness: 10.6mm
- Case and bezel material: Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 ceramic
- Bracelet: Integrated ceramic, matching case color, titanium AP folding clasp
- Crystal: Glareproofed sapphire, front and caseback
- Water resistance: 50 meters
10.6mm thick in profile. The integrated bracelet keeps the ceramic tone consistent from lug to clasp.
Fifty Meters Is a Dress Spec, Not a Tool Spec
Fifty meters of water resistance covers rain and hand washing, not diving or swimming laps. That is normal for a Royal Oak with an open dial complication. The tourbillon opening and the exhibition caseback both work against a deeper water resistance rating, and AP has never chased that number on this reference family.
The Movement: Calibre 2950
Underneath the dial sits AP's in-house automatic flying tourbillon movement, visible through both the tourbillon opening at 6 o'clock and the sapphire caseback.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Caliber | AP Calibre 2950 |
| Type | Self-winding, flying tourbillon |
| Dimensions | 31.5mm x 6.2mm |
| Components | 270 |
| Jewels | 27 |
| Frequency | 21,600 vph (3 Hz) |
| Power reserve | 65 hours |
The Calibre 2950 through the caseback. Hand-finished bridges and an openworked oscillating weight.
What "Flying" Actually Means Here
A flying tourbillon drops the upper bridge that normally caps the tourbillon cage, so the mechanism appears to float inside the dial opening with nothing visibly holding it in place from above. It is supported entirely from below instead. For a full breakdown of how a tourbillon works and whether the complication is worth paying for, see our tourbillon explainer.
Price and Availability
AP has not published a retail price for reference 26730CD.OO.1225CD.01. It is listed as available upon request through AP boutiques and authorized dealers, which is standard practice for the brand's ceramic tourbillon references.
Monochrome's estimate, based on pricing for comparable ceramic Royal Oak tourbillon references, puts the number around CHF 210,000. Treat that as an informed estimate rather than a confirmed retail figure until AP or a dealer publishes one directly.
On the wrist, the all-ceramic execution reads as one continuous piece of color from case to clasp.
Where This Sits for a Buyer
This is a standing-collection piece, not a limited run, so it will not carry the scarcity premium that AP's numbered editions pick up the moment they sell out. That is a point in its favor for a buyer who wants a Royal Oak flying tourbillon without chasing an allocation list.
It is still a five-figure-to-six-figure watch on a complication most collectors will never wear daily. Buyers weighing this against a simpler Royal Oak should read our full Royal Oak buying guide first. A time-only Jumbo or Selfwinding covers the design language at a fraction of the cost, and the tourbillon only makes sense once you actually want the complication for its own sake.
Related Reading
- The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Buying Guide: Every Modern Reference
- What Is a Tourbillon, and Is It Ever Worth the Money?
- Audemars Piguet Nicknames Explained
- The Royal Oak Holds, the Code 11.59 Bleeds: How to Actually Buy an AP in 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the reference number for the new AP Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon in blue ceramic?
Reference 26730CD.OO.1225CD.01, announced August 3, 2026 in Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 ceramic.
Is the Bleu Nuit Nuage 50 Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon a limited edition?
No. It joins the permanent Royal Oak Selfwinding collection rather than launching as a numbered limited run.
How much does the AP Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon in ceramic cost?
AP has not published a retail price. It is listed as available upon request, and Monochrome estimates roughly CHF 210,000 based on comparable ceramic tourbillon references.
What movement powers the Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon?
AP's in-house Calibre 2950, a self-winding flying tourbillon movement with 270 components, 27 jewels, and a 65-hour power reserve.
Where does the Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 color come from?
It traces back to the dial of the original 1972 Royal Oak, reference 5402ST. This release is the first time AP has carried the color across the entire case and bracelet rather than just the dial.