Audemars Piguet introduces their Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher. A timepiece that took 5 years to develop after Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher asked AP to come up with a watch able to measure and record an extended series of consecutive lap times. Only 221 pieces of this Royal Oak Concept Laptimer will be produced to commemorate the number of F1 world championship point-winning races the German legend competed during his career.It is a Royal Oak Concept different from the ones we’ve seen before (here) or from the one that AP showed us during the SIHH 2015 (a loud minute repeater). In that respect, it is quite unexpected that AP introduces this Royal Oak Concept Laptimer. It is not the first watch with a laptimer counter, but the first one that is mechanical.
The Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher – the world’s first watch to feature two angular indexing systems on a single chronograph, each with an independent ‘memory’. It is the first time that a movement has been developed from scratch by Audemars Piguet at the behest of an ambassador – an indication of the strength of the long-standing relationship which Audemars Piguet has enjoyed with Michael Schumacher since forming an on-going partnership with him in 2010.
The mechanism has no less than three column wheels, one for the chronograph function and two for the control of the laptimer sequence. Two mainspring barrels provide 80 hours of power reserve for this beast. To ensure perfect linear torque transmission, AP developed conical gear teeth which mesh seamlessly and accurately at all points in the movement’s cycle.
