Unveiled at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2015 in Geneva, the Audemars Piguet Acoustic Research Episode 1, a new Royal Oak Concept, is a unique prototype. After eight years of research, and with three patents pending, this creation is a chiming watch, engineered to deliver a minute repeater sound at the perfect volume, a feat never before achieved. The sound transmission is for consumption by more than the wearer of the watch. Study of the inner workings of various stringed musical instruments was an integral part of the research. Sonic beauty becomes part of the overall beauty of this piece. Amazingly, it remains waterproof up to 20 metres.