Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph 41mm Frosted 18K White Gold Black Dial Fixed Bezel (Ref# 26331BC.GG.1224BC.03)

Video: Unboxing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Frosted White Gold Chronograph 26331BC

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph in frosted 18K white gold (Ref. 26331BC.GG.1224BC.03) is one of those references where the spec sheet only tells half the story. It is a 41mm Royal Oak chronograph in solid white gold, hand-hammered into AP's frosted finish, with a black Grande Tapisserie dial and gray-blue counters outlined in white gold. This is a limited edition of 111 pieces, numbered on the caseback. On paper it reads as a Royal Oak chronograph. In the hand it is 274 grams of textured precious metal that catches light from every angle. We think it is one of the more distinctive chronographs AP has made, and this video walks through why.

Watch the full unboxing

The frosted 18K white gold case and bezel over the black Grande Tapisserie dial.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph 41mm Frosted 18K White Gold Black Dial (Ref. 26331BC.GG.1224BC.03) - $120,000

The Frosted White Gold Finish

The frosted finish is the headline here. AP makes it by hammering hundreds of tiny indentations into the metal by hand with a diamond-tipped tool, which leaves a shimmering surface that catches light differently than a brushed or polished case would. The technique was developed with Florentine jeweler Carolina Bucci and first appeared on the Royal Oak in 2016. Every facet of the case and every link of the bracelet gets it, and the hard lines of the Royal Oak stay sharp underneath the texture.

The frosted finish up close, scattering light across the bezel and case.

The same frosted texture runs across every link of the integrated bracelet.

AP first used the frosted finish on its smaller Royal Oaks and later brought it to larger references like this 41mm chronograph, where it reads just as well.

Case Dimensions and Weight

The case measures 41mm across. AP lists the thickness at 11mm and the lug-to-lug at 51.5mm. Our own measurements come in a touch higher, right around 11.6mm thick and 51.9mm lug-to-lug. Either way, it sits squarely in standard Royal Oak Chronograph territory dimensionally.

Measuring the case ourselves. Our figures run just above AP's official numbers.

Where this one separates itself from the steel chronograph is weight. On our scale it reads 273.6 grams, more than half a pound. You feel every bit of that when you pick it up. The integrated bracelet balances the mass and the case wears flat, but there is no hiding what is there. This is a heavy watch.

273.6 grams on our scale, nearly all of it solid white gold.

The 41mm case and frosted bracelet on a 7-inch wrist.

The crown is screw-locked and sits between two chronograph pushers, and water resistance is rated at 50 meters. That covers everyday wear and washing your hands, not swimming.

The Black Grande Tapisserie Dial

The dial is black with the Grande Tapisserie pattern, the large square waffle motif that has been part of the Royal Oak for decades. Three sub-dials sit on top of it in a gray-blue tone, each ringed in white gold: a 12-hour counter at nine, a 30-minute counter at three, and running seconds at six. There is a date window between four and five, the AP logo at twelve, and white gold applied markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating.

Black Grande Tapisserie dial, gray-blue sub-dials ringed in white gold.

There is a lot happening on this dial, but it stays legible. The gray-blue counters and white gold framing keep the elements separated, and that contrast is the first thing people notice.

Caliber 2385 Chronograph Movement

The movement is the AP caliber 2385, an automatic chronograph with roughly 40 hours of power reserve, running at 21,600 vibrations per hour. It is the chronograph caliber AP has used across the Royal Oak Chronograph line for years. This reference has a solid white gold caseback, so there is no exhibition window. What is on the back instead is the Royal Oak signature and the engraving marking this as a limited edition of 111 pieces.

The solid caseback, engraved Royal Oak and Limited Edition of 111 Pieces.

Full Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

How rare is this reference?

This variant of the 26331BC is a limited edition of 111 pieces, confirmed by the caseback engraving. The run is closed, so any example trading today is a secondary-market piece.

Is the frosted finish fragile?

The texture is hammered into the metal itself, not applied as a coating, so it does not wear off with regular use. It picks up the same hairlines any 18K white gold case will, and it can be refinished by AP service. The finish is part of the metal.

What is the difference between the 26331BC and the steel 26331ST?

Same 41mm case, same caliber 2385, same dial layout. The 26331BC is solid 18K frosted white gold with white gold markers and hands; the 26331ST is steel. The white gold version weighs noticeably more, and the frosted finish is unique to the precious-metal references.

Does the caseback show the movement?

No. The 26331BC has a solid 18K white gold caseback engraved with the Royal Oak signature and the limited-edition number. The caliber 2385 is not visible from the back on this reference.

Where It Sits in the Lineup

Next to a polished or brushed Royal Oak, the frosted white gold reads completely differently. The texture scatters light where a mirror finish throws a hard reflection, and the weight is obvious the second you pick it up. We think it is one of the most tactile chronographs in the Royal Oak family, and the reactions we get showing it back that up.

Delivered in the Audemars Piguet Le Brassus presentation box.

Reach out if you would like to see the 26331BC in person or talk it through.