I’m calling it right here and right now, this is the hottest watch of SIHH 2017. I’m not saying it’s the best, or the most innovative, or even the most universally loved, but it’ll be the hottest, guaranteed. What is it? It’s the Royal Oak from AP, in full-on perpetual calendar form, but the case this time? Not steel or any precious metal, but rather matte black, brushed ceramic!

Now this seems simple enough, right? Nah, not really. Sure, the caliber is the same 5134 found in the existing RO QP, offering a great thin take on a perpetual moonphase with week indicator, but this case, which has long been considered one of the finest in the world of haute horology due to the several different finish types used, in full ceramic, is absolutely unreal.

AP tells us that the case required over 600 hours of research to develop. To give you an idea of how complex this case and bracelet are, it takes roughly six hours to machine, polish, hand-finish, and assemble a steel bracelet for an RO – the ceramic bracelet? Thirty hours. For the exact same procedure!

The ceramic case here is virtually unscratchable, resistant to high temperature, age, and even thermal shocks! The dial here is AP’s famous “Grande Tapisserie” in slate grey with black registers. The photorealistic moonphase is against the fully black case is just lovely.

Price should be around $85,000 and while this one is not a true limited edition, expect the ceramic perpetual calendar Royal Oak to be a tough one to get just by virtue of how difficult it is to make. Expect it later this year and reference number here is 26579CE.