First of all, I won’t continue to beat a dead horse with this editorial while I express my honest thoughts on the just released Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon 'Companion' X KAWS. By now, my perspective on Audemars Piguet as a watch brand and on the course it has taken in the last three years has not changed. Where I feel the brand is today is something I never expected after becoming a hardcore lover of all things AP and a real AP collector in 1998.
Posts filed under Audemars Piguet
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon 'Companion' X KAWS
Continuing with their recent collaborations and their involvement with artists and celebrities, Audemars Piguet presents a new watch in collaboration with the artist KAWS. The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon 'Companion' X KAWS reference 26656TI.GG.D019VE.01 reinforces Audemars Piguet’s curiosity and ongoing dialogue with the cultural world.
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked White Ceramic ref. 15416CB
Released in 2020 in black ceramic, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Open-worked now comes in a special edition in white ceramic as ref. 15416CB.OO.1225CB.01 and in a limited edition of 30 pieces. The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Open-worked White Ceramic ref. 15416CB is fitted with a rhodium-toned open-worked dial with a blue balance bridge, blue hands, and a blue aventurine inner flange that provides a striking contrast.
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Arabic Markers
Produced after the prototype that was released in 2018, the Royal Oak RD#2, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Ultra-Thin ref. 26586 is the thinnest perpetual calendar in the market at 6.2 mm in thickness. Available in titanium or 18K yellow gold —both with a smooth vertical satin-brushed dial instead of the usual tapisserie dial—, now comes a new iteration of this reference.
Experience: The AP House Mexico City CDMX. A Sanctuary for AP Lovers and Best Terrace in Polanco.
It’s been a while since we’ve written about Audemars Piguet considering all that has been going on with the brand, its allocation practices, and its nouveau riche clientele. However, during our last visit to Mexico City CDMX during the week of the SIAR 2024 —Salón Internacional de Alta Relojería— we were invited by our dear friends at Berger Joyeros who run the AP House for Mexico City.
Introducing: Jaeger-LeCoultre 101 Secrets Timepiece in Platinum with More Than a 1,000 Diamonds
With a new interpretation of the High Jewellery 101 Secrets watch in Platinum 950, Jaeger-LeCoultre continues to enrich the Calibre 101 collection. First presented in 2023 in diamond-set 18K pink gold, the 101 Secrets timepiece required hundreds of hours of research to create an entirely new design.
Experience: Johnnie Walker Blue Label Schiphol Airport Edition and a AP Royal Oak Extra-Thin 15202OR
Landing at the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam is always a treat if you like the finer things in life as much as we do. After a long-haul flight on KLM's World Business Class, the perfect way to start your day on the other side of the pond is by enjoying all that this airport has to offer. Schiphol is without a doubt, one of our favorite airports in the world and one that truly offers a great experience if you enjoy the good life.
Experience: Explaining The Art of Sabrage. The Finest Champagne Ritual.
Whether it’s a special afternoon ritual at one of the St. Regis hotels, Napoleon’s way to celebrate a victory on the battlefield, or simply the coolest way to open a bottle of champagne, that’s exactly what the art of sabrage is about. Sabrage refers to the act of opening a bottle of champagne by sliding a saber over its neck. Now, while many believe that the saber slices the neck of the bottle or pushes the cork out, what in reality happens is that the slight impact of the saber on the seam of the bottle creates a chain reaction that makes the bottle release its pressure by breaking its top cork included.
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked Pink-Gold Toned ref. 15407ST
The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked Pink Gold-toned iteration of ref.15407ST.OO.1220ST.02 contrasts a 41 mm stainless steel case with a pink-gold-toned open-worked movement and matching inner bezel for a contemporary two-tone aesthetic. The pink gold screws on the bezel add the finishing touch to mark the importance of this new edition. This is also the very first time that the hex bolts on a Royal Oak in stainless steel are made of pink gold instead of white gold.
Eye Candy: A Match Made in Heaven with a Porsche 911 Carrera S and an AP Royal Oak Offshore RubberClad
In the past, we've also featured a Porsche 911 Carrera S in the company of a Richard Mille RM015 Le Mans Classic here. This time, we bring you what we think is one of the best matches between a car and a watch, what we like to call a 'match made in heaven'. The Porsche 911 Carrera S a.k.a. 991 is one of those cars that exudes power whichever way you look at it and what better match to it than a discontinued Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubber Clad ref. 25940OK.OO.D002CA.02.
Experience: Auer Amandes Princesses. The World's Best Chocolate-Covered Almonds from Genève.
If you are a regular traveler to Genève, Switzerland, you already know that a trip to Geneva is never complete unless you’ve stopped at Auer Chocolatier near the Place du Molard. Auer Chocolatier was founded in 1939 and is located on Rue de Rive 4. This five-generation family-owned chocolate maker is best known for their legendary ‘Amandes Princesses’ —princess almonds— that we can only describe as the world’s best chocolate-covered almonds.
Introducing: Audemars Piguet [RE]Master02 Selfwinding. A Tribute to Brutalism.
Following the footsteps of the [RE]Master01, launched in 2020 reinterpreting a rare chronograph from 1943, Audemars Piguet now presents a new limited edition within the [RE]Master series. The new Audemars Piguet [RE]Master02 ref. 15240SG is a tribute to ‘Brutalism’ in a 250-piece limited edition inspired by the reference 5159BA from 1960.
From the Editor: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ladies Quartz ref. 66270. What the New Mini Royal Oak Should've Been.
Today, Audemars Piguet presented a new version of the Royal Oak named the Mini in a 23 mm size and referred to it as a ‘comeback’. In AP’s words: “A glowing come back for the mighty Mini Royal Oak, offered for the first time in a 23 mm diameter and executed in a choice of 18-carat yellow, white or pink Frosted gold.” In reality, not really a comeback. If it’s a real comeback, it cannot be referred to as: “the first time for this size.” Not sure who’s now in charge of marketing at Audemars Piguet but they need to hire some new copywriters and quit being a one-trick pony.
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon Openworked 'Sand Gold'. A Totally New Alloy that Plays with Light.
First released in 2022 for the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary, calibre 2972 combines an automatic mechanism with a flying tourbillon. Now a new iteration comes as the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Openworked ‘Sand Gold’ ref. 26735SG.OO.1320SG.01 in 41 mm which introduces the very first timepiece crafted in ‘Sand gold’, a new 18K gold alloy developed by Audemars Piguet conferring rich plays of light.
From the Editor: Royal Oak Perpetual Cactus Jack Solidifies AP's Status as Brand for 'Nouveau Riche'
Following the steps of brands like Hublot and with François-Henry Bennahmias’ —AP’s CEO— obsession with celebrities and aspirations to become one himself, what used to be one of my favorite luxury watch brands has finally lost all its allure and value, at least for me. The old classics will remain as icons in my book, but when it comes to their latest watches, all I see is a decline in AP’s brand equity, and I am not sure how much more it will endure.
From the Editor: My Thoughts on the AP Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon 'Spider-Man'. Don't Want to Miss This One.
When I thought I had seen it all with the release of the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon ‘Black Panther’ in 2021, I was definitely wrong. You can read my thoughts on that particular release here. Now, let me share my thoughts about what I consider to be the lowest any luxury brand could hit, let alone a brand like Audemars Piguet that I’ve been buying since 1998. How can you be part of the ‘Holy Trinity of Watchmaking’ when you release such a watch?
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 43 ref. 26420CE. Let's Nickname it 'The John Player Special'.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore and AP has decided to celebrate with a few new releases in the collection. After the great release of the all-black all ceramic Royal Oak Offshore 42 reference 26238CE.OO.1300CE.01. we published here yesterday, now comes a new version of the Royal Oak Offshore 43 mm reference 26420CE.OO.A127CR.01 also cloaked in an all-black ceramic case but with 18K yellow gold accents on its strap plots, crown guards, and dial.
Introducing: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore All Black Ceramic ref. 26238CE
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore and AP has decided to celebrate with a few new releases in the collection. One of them and our favorite so far is the all-black all ceramic Royal Oak Offshore reference 26238CE.OO.1300CE.01. A watch that is very reminiscent of the ‘End of Days’ with its all-black cloak.
From the Editor: My Search for the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 25854TI is Finally Over. Detailed Explanation of this Reference.
There are a number of words and phrases that would come to mind whenever I thought about finding one of my all-time grails, the titanium Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Perpetual Calendar Chronograph ref. 25854TI.OO.1150TI.01. A range of adjectives describing this watch that go all the way from understated luxury to ultra cool sportiness, a Neo-vintage watch grail, pure watch badassery for those that really know, the ultimate FU watch, but most definitely, the words that would always come to mind, would be: a grand complication by Audemars Piguet for those that want the sportiest look possible in a very understated way.
From the Editor: Fourth Generation of Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad Quietly Reintroduced by AP after 9 Years of Discontinuation. In-Depth History and Explanation of this Iconic Watch.
The iconic and legendary Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad ref. 25940 needs very little introduction and is for sure one of those watches that is worth explaining in-depth, especially since it marks the first use of rubber as a main component in the watch industry. The AP Rubberclad is a watch that we've seen on the wrists of dozen of celebrities and AP lovers and a watch that is living testament of the continued innovation that AP has brought to the watch industry since the launch of the Royal Oak in 1972. A few months ago, Audemars Piguet quietly reintroduced the iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rubberclad under reference 26238OK.OO.A002CA.01.
