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Audemars Piguet Tourbillon Watches for Sale
The Audemars Piguet tourbillon represents the pinnacle of AP’s mechanical expertise — a complication that the Le Brassus manufacture has been refining since its first tourbillon wristwatch in 1986. Today, AP integrates tourbillons across the Royal Oak, Royal Oak Offshore, Royal Oak Concept, and Jules Audemars collections, ranging from ultra-thin hand-wound calibres to flying tourbillon chronographs. Browse our authenticated inventory of pre-owned AP tourbillon watches with free overnight U.S. shipping.
AUDEMARS PIGUET
Audemars Piguet 26630OR.GG.D326CR.01 Royal Oak Concept Blue Dial Blue Alligator Strap
$175,000.00
AUDEMARS PIGUET
Audemars Piguet 26630OR.GG.D626CR.01 Royal Oak Concept Gold Dial Bronze Alligator Strap
Price on Request
AUDEMARS PIGUET
Audemars Piguet 26228OR.SS.D314CR.01 Royal Oak Concept Skeleton Dial Light Blue Alligator Strap
Price on Request
AUDEMARS PIGUET
Audemars Piguet 26227BC.YY.D326CR.01-A Royal Oak Concept Skeleton Dial Blue Alligator Strap
Price on Request
AUDEMARS PIGUET
Audemars Piguet 26632CN.OO.D100CA.01 Royal Oak Concept Skeleton Dial Black Rubber Strap
Price on Request
AUDEMARS PIGUET
Audemars Piguet 26631IO.OO.D002CA.01 Royal Oak Concept Skeleton Dial Black Rubber Strap
Price on Request
AUDEMARS PIGUET
Audemars Piguet 26589IO.OO.D500CA.01 Royal Oak Concept Skeleton Dial Burgundy Rubber Strap
Price on Request
AUDEMARS PIGUET
Audemars Piguet 26622CE.OO.D062CA.01 Royal Oak Offshore Black and Green Dial Green Rubber Strap
$391,000.00
AUDEMARS PIGUET
Audemars Piguet 26622CE.OO.D002CA.02 Royal Oak Offshore Black Dial Black Rubber Strap
$369,999.00
Out of stock
AUDEMARS PIGUET
Audemars Piguet 26622CE.OO.D002CA.01 Royal Oak Offshore Black Dial Black Rubber Strap
$371,000.00
AUDEMARS PIGUET
Audemars Piguet 26396NR.OO.D002KB.01 Code 11.59 Smoked Green Dial Black Rubber Strap Watch
$320,000.00
Audemars Piguet and the Tourbillon: A Technical History
Abraham-Louis Breguet patented the tourbillon in 1801 as a solution to positional timekeeping errors in pocket watches. Audemars Piguet was among the first Swiss houses to bring this complication to the wristwatch format, debuting its first tourbillon wristwatch in 1986. In 2019, AP unveiled the Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon (Ref. 26530), which placed a flying tourbillon — visible through a dial aperture at 6 o'clock without an upper bridge — into the iconic octagonal case for the first time in a production model.
AP's tourbillon movements are assembled entirely at the Le Brassus manufacture in the Vallée de Joux. Each tourbillon cage rotates once per 60 seconds, and the components are finished with beveled edges, circular graining, and Geneva stripes to a standard that qualifies for the AP in-house quality seal.
AP Tourbillon Reference Overview
| Collection | Type | Case | Material | Pre-Owned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Oak | Flying Tourbillon | 41mm | Steel / Gold / Titanium | $130,000 – $250,000 |
| Royal Oak Offshore | Tourbillon Chronograph | 44mm | Gold / Ceramic / Forged Carbon | $150,000 – $350,000 |
| Royal Oak Concept | Flying Tourbillon | 44mm | Titanium / Ceramic / Forged Carbon | $180,000 – $400,000 |
| Jules Audemars | Classic Tourbillon | 41mm | Rose Gold / White Gold / Platinum | $80,000 – $200,000 |
| Royal Oak Extra-Thin | Openworked Tourbillon | 41mm | Gold / Titanium | $200,000 – $500,000+ |
Flying Tourbillon vs. Traditional Tourbillon
A traditional tourbillon cage is held between an upper and lower bridge, partially obscuring the mechanism from the dial side. AP's flying tourbillon, by contrast, is cantilevered from a single lower support, eliminating the upper bridge entirely. This allows an unobstructed view of the rotating cage through the dial aperture. The engineering challenge is substantial — the cantilevered cage must maintain positional accuracy without the structural support of an upper bridge — and it is one of the reasons AP's flying tourbillon commands a premium over traditional configurations.
Openworked and Skeleton Tourbillons
AP produces several openworked tourbillon references in which the dial is removed entirely, exposing the skeletonized movement architecture. The Royal Oak Extra-Thin Openworked Tourbillon (Ref. 26518) reduces the case to approximately 8.5mm in height while displaying every bridge, wheel, and the tourbillon cage through a sapphire crystal. These references represent the intersection of haute horlogerie finishing and avant-garde design.
Explore Audemars Piguet Collections
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak — the iconic octagonal sports watch
- Royal Oak Offshore — oversized chronographs and complications
- Royal Oak Concept — experimental high-complication pieces
- Jules Audemars — classic round-case dress complications
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an Audemars Piguet tourbillon cost?
Pre-owned AP tourbillon prices range from approximately $80,000 for a Jules Audemars tourbillon in precious metal to over $500,000 for limited-edition Royal Oak Extra-Thin Openworked Tourbillon references. Royal Oak flying tourbillons in steel or titanium typically trade between $130,000 and $250,000 on the secondary market.
What is a flying tourbillon?
A flying tourbillon eliminates the upper bridge found on traditional tourbillons, supporting the rotating cage from a single lower pivot. This provides an unobstructed view of the mechanism through the dial and represents a higher level of engineering complexity. AP has used flying tourbillons across the Royal Oak, Royal Oak Concept, and Offshore collections.
Which AP collection has the most tourbillon references?
The Royal Oak collection offers the widest variety of tourbillon configurations, including the selfwinding flying tourbillon, the extra-thin openworked tourbillon, and the tourbillon chronograph. The Royal Oak Offshore and Royal Oak Concept lines also feature tourbillons, typically in larger case sizes and more avant-garde materials like forged carbon and ceramic.
Is an AP tourbillon a good investment?
AP tourbillons retain value well due to limited production volumes and the brand's position within the Holy Trinity. Royal Oak tourbillons in steel or titanium have shown particularly strong secondary market demand. However, precious metal Jules Audemars tourbillons can trade below retail, as collector focus has shifted toward the Royal Oak family.
What is the difference between an AP tourbillon and a Patek Philippe tourbillon?
Both houses produce tourbillons to the highest finishing standards. AP tends toward sportier implementations — placing tourbillons in the Royal Oak's octagonal case and offering materials like forged carbon and ceramic. Patek Philippe positions its tourbillons within dressier cases (Calatrava, Grand Complications) and emphasizes traditional precious metals. AP's flying tourbillon is generally more visually exposed, while Patek often integrates the tourbillon with additional complications like minute repeaters.
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