The 2026 Royal Oak 38 mm Chronograph puts a new engine behind an old icon

Few 2026 Royal Oaks connect so directly to Gérald Genta's original proposition as the 38 mm steel Selfwinding Chronograph, reference 26450ST.OO.1356ST.01-B. Its blue Grande Tapisserie dial, octagonal brushed bezel, visible hexagonal screws and uninterrupted metal bracelet make the engineering-led 1972 design language legible at a glance.

The real change is beneath the surface. Manufacture Calibre 6401 replaces the earlier 2385 with an integrated automatic chronograph, column wheel, vertical clutch and approximately 55 hours of power reserve. For the first time in this 38 mm chronograph line, a sapphire caseback opens a view onto its finished mechanism.

The 11.1 mm-thick case preserves the compact proportions. On the dial, matching blue registers bring visual order to a design that already mixes several strong geometric rhythms. Announced in February 2026, this is evolution through engineering, not a new silhouette.