Our R&D lab unveils a new innovative ceramic

30 January 2024

A new polychrome ceramic is introduced, marking a first in the watchmaking industry. This chroma ceramic, which features an unprecedented camouflage aesthetic, was developed by Audemars Piguet’s R&D teams using the latest Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technology, which allows the ceramic powder to be sintered rapidly.

This innovative technique will also be applied to other materials, notably gold, opening up new creative perspectives for the brand.

Driven by the desire to push the boundaries, this chroma ceramic has been made possible by the latest Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technology, which significantly reduces the sintering time from several hours to just a few dozen minutes.

To create this multi-coloured camouflage motif, powders of different coloured ceramics are carefully placed in a circular graphite mould. The mould is then sintered using a powerful electric current that is conducted through the graphite. This current generates a meteoric rise in temperature, which, combined with the mechanical pressure on either side of the mould, allows extremely rapid sintering.

The compression of the ceramic powders during the sintering cycle makes each piece unique, as the pattern varies slightly each time. Despite these variations in pattern, this technique ensures visual consistency between the different ceramic components.

The resulting discs, which are extremely hard, are then machined until the desired shape is achieved. Each component is then pre-polished and pre-satin-brushed before being meticulously hand-finished to obtain the Manufacture’s trademark alternation of satin finishing and polished chamfers.

Our first multi-coloured ceramic, the result of our materials research, opens up a whole new field of creative possibilities for years to come. We look forward to its debut in our collections.

Lucas Raggi

Research and Development Director, Audemars Piguet

Throughout its history, Audemars Piguet has combined a variety of materials and developed avant-garde and sometimes disruptive aesthetics. This boundless creativity reflects the pioneering and free spirit that the Manufacture has preserved and nurtured for generations.

It is thanks to the meticulous work of artisans that materials such as steel, titanium, carbon or ceramic have been ennobled and given a place in the world of watchmaking.