The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar reference 26579CE.OO.1225CE.01 is a 41mm luxury sports watch distinguished by its full black ceramic construction. The case measures 9.5mm in thickness and features the collection’s signature octagonal bezel with eight hexagonal screws, paired with an integrated black ceramic bracelet and a titanium AP folding clasp. It is powered by the ultra-thin manufacture calibre 5134, a self-winding movement that beats at 19,800 vibrations per hour and provides a 40-hour power reserve.
The watch features a slate grey dial decorated with the Grande Tapisserie pattern and white gold applied hour markers. Its extensive perpetual calendar complications include displays for the day, date, month, leap year, and astronomical moon phase, as well as a dedicated hand for the week of the year indicated on the inner bezel. The astronomical moon phase is particularly detailed, utilizing a laser micro-structured moon on an aventurine sky, and requires correction only once every 125 years and 317 days.
General reviews of the 26579CE highlight its exceptional finishing, noting that the ceramic case and bracelet are polished and brushed to the same high standards as stainless steel models, a process that is significantly more labor-intensive. While collectors often praise its modern aesthetic and the way the ceramic material wears lighter than metal, common criticisms focus on its limited water resistance of 20 meters and the lack of micro-adjustment on the bracelet. Despite these minor drawbacks, it is widely regarded as a highly desirable and technically impressive timepiece that effectively blends traditional high-watchmaking complications with contemporary materials.