Audemars Piguet has unveiled a new Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph created in collaboration with Serena Williams, bringing together white ceramic, pink-tinted mother-of-pearl, and a design that reflects Williams’ personal influence on the watch.
The Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph “Serena Williams” Limited Edition measures 38mm and is limited to 500 pieces. It pairs the familiar Royal Oak silhouette with a distinctly softer color palette, while introducing AP’s new in-house Calibre 6401 to the 38mm chronograph collection.
A Royal Oak With a Different Personality
The first thing that stands out is the combination of white ceramic and pink.
The case, bezel, crown, chronograph pushers, and integrated bracelet are all made from white ceramic, with AP alternating satin-brushed surfaces and polished chamfers throughout the architecture. The result keeps the unmistakable geometry of the Royal Oak while giving this version a noticeably different presence.
The pink-tinted mother-of-pearl dial adds another layer to the design. Its natural iridescence changes with the light, giving the otherwise monochromatic ceramic case some depth without overwhelming the Royal Oak's familiar layout.
Serena's Design Influence
This isn't simply a Royal Oak carrying Serena Williams' name.
Williams worked directly with Audemars Piguet on the design, drawing on her own preferences and perspective. In discussing the watch, she has spoken about the importance of balancing strength and feminine energy, with pink playing an especially personal role in the design.
That idea comes through in the finished watch. The white ceramic gives it a strong, architectural foundation, while the pink mother-of-pearl introduces something softer and more expressive.
A New Generation of Chronograph
Inside the 38mm case is Audemars Piguet's in-house Calibre 6401, an integrated self-winding chronograph movement with a column wheel and patented vertical clutch.
The movement also brings a redesigned chronograph layout, with the minute counter at 9 o'clock, hour counter at 3 o'clock, and date positioned between 4 and 5 o'clock. It provides a minimum 55-hour power reserve.
This makes the Serena Williams edition more than a visual update. It also represents a new generation of AP's smaller automatic chronographs.
38mm With Plenty of Presence
At 38mm, the watch sits in a size that gives the Royal Oak plenty of wrist presence without moving into the larger proportions associated with some of the collection's sportier models.
The white ceramic case is also highly finished, with alternating brushed and chamfered surfaces that emphasize the Royal Oak's angular construction. Water resistance is rated to 50 meters.
Two Strap Options, Two Different Looks
One of the details that makes this Royal Oak especially interesting is that it isn't limited to its white ceramic bracelet.
The watch comes on an integrated white ceramic bracelet as its primary configuration, but it also includes an additional pink rubber strap with white ceramic studs. The strap is secured with a titanium AP folding clasp.
That gives the same watch two distinct ways to wear it.
On the ceramic bracelet, the watch feels more architectural and refined, with the white ceramic carrying the Royal Oak's signature finishing from the case directly through the bracelet. Switching to the pink rubber strap shifts the balance. It brings out the pink tones of the mother-of-pearl dial and gives the chronograph a more sporty character.
It's also a fitting choice for a chronograph designed around the balance between performance and elegance. Rather than treating the strap as an afterthought, AP gives the wearer a second configuration that changes the way the watch presents itself.
A Decade in the Making
The release continues a relationship between Serena Williams and Audemars Piguet that has lasted for more than a decade. Williams has been an AP ambassador since 2014, and this marks a deeper step into the design process, with her directly involved in creating the watch.
The result feels connected to both sides of that relationship: AP's established Royal Oak design language and Williams' own approach to style, performance, and femininity.
Limited to 500 Pieces
The Royal Oak Selfwinding Chronograph “Serena Williams” Limited Edition is limited to 500 pieces.
With its 38mm white ceramic construction, pink-tinted mother-of-pearl dial, in-house Calibre 6401, and two strap configurations, it stands apart from a typical Royal Oak chronograph release.
The Bottom Line
The Serena Williams Royal Oak brings together some familiar Audemars Piguet details with a design that feels distinctly different from the typical Royal Oak chronograph. The white ceramic case and bracelet keep its signature shape front and center, while the pink mother-of-pearl dial and matching rubber strap give the watch a softer, more playful side.
Being able to switch between the ceramic bracelet and pink rubber strap is one of the details that makes the design especially interesting. The two options give the same watch noticeably different personalities, showing just how much the way a watch is worn can influence its overall look.