To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Royal Oak, Audemars Piguet introduced its first-ever Royal Oak Concept Watch in 2002. Housed in an Alacrite 602 case, the CW1 evokes a futuristic feel, crafted from an alloy of cobalt chrome, tungsten, carbon, silicon, and iron, originally developed for the aerospace industry. This alloy was exclusively used for the first Royal Oak Concept Watch and has not been utilized in any subsequent models or by any other brand. While drawing inspiration from the original Royal Oak, the CW1 features modifications, including a curved bezel with exposed screws to accommodate the domed crystal, all while preserving sharp case edges and bevels. The movement, developed by Renaud & Papi, is constructed with titanium plates and bridges, incorporating a tourbillon escapement positioned to the left, visible through a semi-skeletonized dial.

On the dial, a dynamographe scale at 12 o’clock indicates the quality of torque on the mainspring, while a linear power reserve indicator is situated on the right side, and a small seconds display with crown position indication is located at the bottom. A pusher at 4 o’clock activates the crown function, allowing for R (Remontoir), N (Neutral), and H (Hand-setting) modes.

This particular example is one of only 150 pieces produced and represents the very first Concept Watch released by the brand. Its standout Alacrite 602 case ensures its uniqueness as the only wristwatch crafted from this material.