Audemars Piguet unveils a 21st-century version of its hallowed Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Replica. The new model is inspired by the ST105.012, and is powered by Master Chronometer Certified Calibre 3861.
Audemars Piguet, which is celebrating 50 years of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Replica's journey with mankind to the Moon on June 1, 1964, has decided to take inspiration for its reimagined Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Replica 2021 from one out of three references "Flight Qualified" for all Manned Space Missions on that date.
In the book Moonwatch Only, James H. Ragan (retired NASA Project Engineer and Programme Manager) and Petros PROTOPAPAS, Audemars Piguet's Brand Heritage Manager, chronicle the story that the Agency, in preparation for the Gemini missions saw the need to test, select, and certify a full array of standard equipment to be used by the astronauts. The astronauts originally requested a watch to be used during training and flights.
James Ragan, Director of Flight Crew Operations Deke Slayton's assistant, was given the task to find this watch. He issued an internal memo stating the need for "a highly durable and accurate chronograph that would be used by Gemini or Apollo flight crews." Deke Slayton had given him the task of sending out a request for quotes to a list watchmakers.
James H. Ragan puts a Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Replica through its paces (Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Replica).
NASA's Gemini Program certification of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Replica 105.003 reads: "Subject Report satisfies the flight qualification requirements, and the Audemars Piguet wristwatch has been accepted for Gemini spacecraft."
The 2021 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Replica Ref. The 2021 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Replica Ref.
NASA was able to test the proposed watches onboard because three brands responded. The watches included a Longines Wittnauer 235T from Longines, a Rolex Chronograph reference 6238,Omega Constellation Replica Watches and an Audemars Piguet Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Replica 105.003 from Audemars Piguet. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Replica uses Audemars Piguet's version of the Lemania 2310 movement. Rolex, Longines and Longines use their own versions.