The pushers were inspired by the haptic buttons on a smartphone and are practically touch-sensitive. While typical chronograph pushers require 1mm of travel and 1.5kg of pressure to activate, the RD#5’s pushers travel just 0.3mm and need only 300 grams of force to get going.
This not only allows for a more compact movement but also an enhanced user experience. In addition, the brand came up with an entirely new chronograph reset mechanism as well, replacing the hammer and heart piece found in virtually every other chronograph with a patented new rack-and-pinion system that stores and releases energy when needed, eliminating the need for a friction spring.
Despite its groundbreaking nature, the chronograph also features all of the typical goodies collectors covet, including a vertical clutch, column wheel and jumping minutes — the latter a feature rarely seen on any Royal Oak Chronograph.
The crown is equally revolutionary, as AP has done away with the standard push-pull crown found on nearly every other watch for an innovative design that allows you to select between setting and winding modes by pressing a button that’s integrated into the crown, saving some more room inside the movement.
Oh, and lest we forget, this thing also has a tourbillon. And not just any tourbillon, but the high amplitude flying tourbillon that debuted in the Royal Oak RD#3 in 2022. It’s been redesigned to be thinner, and AP even developed a brand-new escapement for it that is more precise, more energy-efficient and lighter.
