Posts filed under Audemars Piguet

Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ladies Quartz ref. 66270. An Often Forgotten Reference, Yet a Stunner.

The discontinued Royal Oak Ladies Quartz watch ref. 66270ST.OO.0722ST.01 is an often forgotten reference that is truly one of the best looking ladies watches ever made. This beautiful reference circa 1990s is fitted with a dark blue 'petite tapisserie' dial that has the same hue of blue as the first Royal Oak Jumbo launched in 1972.

The watch has a 25 mm case that, for today's standards, seems relatively small; however, the wrist presence of this watch is pure ''grandeur' due to its iconic design and pedigree. This quartz watch is fitted with the AP Quartz Calibre 2160 with a date aperture at 3 o'clock and an estimated battery life of 2-2.5 years. 

This very thin timepiece has a monoblock case like all older Royal Oaks. It comes with an integrated bracelet featuring a deployant folding push button clasp bearing the Gay Frères engraving. Gay Frères used to be involved in the construction of the Royal Oak bracelets from 1972 until the late 1990s.

This  'petite' watch is an iconic reference with amazing wrist presence.

As you can appreciate in the picture below, this watch wears bigger than what you would think. It's a great everyday watch that matches all types of outfits and it is the perfect companion for a picnic in Central Park or a gala night at Lincoln Center. 

If you can find one, the estimated pre-owned Sticker Price $6,500-$8,000.  For more info on the current Audemars Piguet Ladies collection click here.  

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet and tagged Ladies Royal Oak Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 66270ST.OO.0722ST.01 Royal Oak Ladies Quartz Stainless Steel Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ladies Quartz Posts 2013 2013.

Experience: Montecristo No. 3. One of the Finest Habanos in the World.

As we were getting ready to enjoy another sunset at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman down in the Cayman Islands, we pulled out an Habano to enjoy the moment even more. Really, there's nothing better than a good cigar on the beach, wearing a nice watch and contemplating a beautiful sunset.

This time, we enjoyed a Montecristo No. 3 —a hand rolled Cuban cigar that is typically used as the benchmark when rating other fine cigars.

Montecristo has set the bar quite high for almost 80 years since its launch in 1935. Its name was taken from Alexandre Dumas' novel 'The Count of Montecristo'. The story accounts that when the factory first opened, the manager used to read the novel to the 'torcedores'—rollers— and they liked the novel so much, that they wanted to immortalize the main character of the novel by naming their fine cigars 'Montecristo'.

The Montecristo No. 3 only includes leaves from the region of 'Vuelta Abajo'. This Cuban region is home to the best tobacco leaves in the world. From fillers to binders and wrapper, all are 'Vuelta Abajo' leaves.  'Vuelta Abajo' is located in the western tip of Cuba in the province of 'Pinar del Río' by the towns of 'San Juan y Martínez' and 'San Luis'.

This region is also the main source of tobacco for Habanos, and the only region that grows all types of leaf. But even in this amazing region, less than a quarter of the tobacco growing land enjoys the 'Vegas Finas de Primera' status that is required for the Habanos.

Montecristo No. 3 is a Coronas measuring 5 5/8" in length with a 42 ring gauge. With hints of leather, coffee and ambergris, this cigar is rich and powerful. Flavor profile stays even for the first two thirds of the cigar and becomes stronger on the last third. Around 50 minutes of burning time in a perfectly rolled cigar with perfect draw and almost perfect even burn —went out just once, possibly due to the strong evening sea breeze.

While this cigar is a joy to smoke, we only recommended it for more experienced smokers. Due to its intensity, we feel it might be too much to take for someone looking to try a cigar for the very first time.

Posted on June 9, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Food Wine & Cigars, Audemars Piguet, Sybarite Guide and tagged Montecristo No. 3 Audemars Piguet Diver Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Vuelta Abajo Pinar del Río Vegas Finas de Primera San Juan y Martínez San Luís Cuba The Count of Montecristo Alexandre Dumas Torcedores 2013.

Experience: Audemars Piguet Boutique Bal Harbour. A Very Modern and Sleek Place.

Located in the heart of Bal Harbour just north of Miami Beach, off of Collins Ave. and 96th, a brand new Audemars Piguet boutique was just opened a couple of weeks ago inside the Bal Harbour Shops.

The boutique includes a 990 sq. ft. space—located on the first floor next to David Yurman— with a very minimalistic design that clearly portrays Audemars Piguet's core values and brand essence.  As soon as you walk in, you will be taken on a journey all the way to the home of the manufacture in Le Brassus.

Even though the boutique is very modern, it is still extremely inviting. Before you head into the boutique, you already know that you are in for a treat. As you walk in and are greeted by their friendly staff, core elements of the earth are present in the materials utilized in every single corner of this magnificent space.

Once inside, you will notice sleek slate floors, modern wooden walls, polygonal stone blocks —serving as the base for the wooden counter tops—, high-tech screens, rocks covered with moss, brass sculptures, nicknacks and a large chandelier that illuminates the space.

On the left side as you walk in, next to a beautiful white lacquered indented shelving unit, you will find a super-sized nine panel video wall looping images of nature and landscapes from the Vallée de Joux. On the opposite side, a smaller LED screen is looping horological footage from the manufacture and watches in the collection. At the lounge bar area, feel free to help yourself to some of the most delicious 'macarons' that taste just as authentic as if you were in Paris at Pierre Hermé on Rue Cambon —just a block away from the Audemars Piguet boutique on Rue Saint Honoré.

As you walk around, you'll notice that employees are well trained to make adjustments to bracelets. By the loupe and tool set he was using, we can tell that you won't leave with a scratched bracelet.

As you look around for that next piece that you want to buy, you'll notice the attention that has been put forth to every single detail at the boutique. From the flowers to the bronze sculptures —that appear to be made by Swiss sculptor Giacometti. The displays are unique and well lit showcasing the watches in pure harmony. Fantastic pieces, complications and key references across the different Audemars Piguet lines are on display. Now pick what you want to try on.

Once you pick your favorite watch to peruse, have a seat on the comfortable, perfectly designed chairs and take a deep breath. Take all of the imagery and the boutique design inside you, all the way to your core. You are here for a reason and you know it.

Now, admire the design and craftsmanship of that gorgeous Royal Oak Extra-Thin Tourbillon ref. 26510ST.OO.1220ST.01 you've been wanting for a long time or perhaps the Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph in gold. Choices, choices and more choices. The endless storyline in the life of a watch collector.  

As you make another round throughout the boutique, the antique pocket watch from the Audemars Piguet Museum catches your attention. Then, you admire the antique Ingold Fraise horological tool —used to cut movement wheels and their teeth— that is sitting on the upper shelf right above the pocket watch. As you look at the LED screen to the right of those two objects, you just can't stop watching the video that is playing and showing you how these masterpieces are made. You are more than ready to get one.

While you are there and as you make up your mind, enjoy looking at pieces like the Millenary Minute Repeater with AP Escapement ref. 26371TI.OO.D002CR.01 —a limited edition of 8 pieces in Titanium and anthracite dial— and the Jules Audemars Chronometer with AP Escapement in Platinum ref. 26153PT.OO.D028CR.01.

After purchasing that new timepiece, you leave through the door feeling fulfilled after your experience at the beautiful boutique. You are happy, excited and looking forward to sharing your unveiling thread on an online watch forum. Mission accomplished.

As you walk back into the shopping center atrium, you stop by the koi fish and turtle pond outside the boutique. As you look at the koi fish, the orange color on them makes you think about the new Royal Oak Offshore Ceramic Diver and its orange accents. As you are getting ready to leave, you turn back and take a last look at the boutique wondering when you will be back to peruse the new Ceramic Diver and add it to the collection.

Special thanks to Audemars Piguet for allowing us to come visit the boutique and take all of these pictures for our story.

For more info click here.  

Audemars Piguet
Bal Harbour Shops
9700 Collins Avenue, Space #159
Bal Harbour, FL 33154
 
Phone number:  305.864.6776
Toll Free:  866.595.9700
 
Store Hours:
Monday - Saturday 10 AM – 8:45 PM
Sunday 12noon – 5:45 PM

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Watch Shopping, Audemars Piguet and tagged Audemars Piguet Bal Harbour Boutique Royal Oak Tourbillon Royal Oak Tourbillon Chrono Le Brassus Ingold Fraise Giacommeti Bal Harbour Shops Macarons Pierre Herme Royal Oak Extra-Thin Tourbillon Jules Audemars Chronograph with Escapement Jules Audemars Chronometer with Escapement Audemars Piguet ref. 26153PT.OO.D028CR.01 Audemars Piguet Millenary Minute Repeater Audemars Piguet ref. 26371TI.OO.D002CR.01 Millenary Minute Repeater Limited Edition Posts 2013 2013.

Experience: Hoyo de Monterrey Dark Sumatra Media Noche. A Well Balanced Cigar.

After a delicious meal at Julian Serrano in Las Vegas and while finishing our last glass of sangría, we headed down to View Bar to enjoy a fine cigar. This time an Hoyo de Monterrey Dark Sumatra Media Noche from Honduras. It's nowhere near the 'real' Hoyo de Monterrey from Cuba but it's quite good. 

Made at the renowned General Cigar Company in Honduras —one of two of the largest cigar factories in the world—, the Dark Sumatra is a more robust version of the original Hoyo de Monterrey from that country. This complex mature cigar features a Dark Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, fillers from Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic and Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro binders.

The Media Noche is a 'Corona Gorda' measuring 5¾ inches in length with a 54 ring gauge. With hints of coffee, roasted nuts, and leather, this cigar is smooth but rich at the same time. Flavor profile changes every 15 to 20 minutes with at least 50 minutes of good burn. 

The leaves are rolled with the perfect tightness for a perfect draw, even burn and a long ash. This cigar is so well rolled that it does not require relighting at all.

If you want a mature, complex cigar that is yet smooth, the Hoyo de Monterrrey Dark Sumatra Media Noche will not let you down. 

For more info click here.  

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Food Wine & Cigars, Sybarite Guide, Audemars Piguet and tagged Hoyo de Monterrey Dark Sumatra Media Noche General Cigar Company Honduras View Bar Julian Serrano Las Vegas Audemars Piguet Diver Hoyo de Monterrey Dark Sumatra Media Noche 2013.

Experience: Petrus Pomerol 2000. Celebrating 20 Years of the Royal Oak Offshore.

The year 2013, marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Royal Oak Offshore; another milestone in Audemars Piguet's history. Contrary to the Royal Oak, the Royal Oak Offshore was not a response from the manufacture to any particular request from a particular market. Stephen Urquhart, Audemars Piguet's Managing Director at the time, felt it was time for the Royal Oak to have a sibling.

In 1989, he asked Emmanuel Gueit to come with a design to commemorate the Royal Oak's 20th anniversary. Emmanuel, based his design on the observation that women were already wearing men's watches back then and he felt it was time for the Royal Oak to move up a notch in size. Initially scheduled to be launched in 1992 —right at the time of the Royal Oak's 20th anniversary—, the Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721ST was pushed back another year.   

Since the Royal Oak was partially inspired by the maritime world, it was natural for the new watch to be named Offshore. The other name that could've been used was 'Challenger'. We really think that 'Offshore' suits this watch way better.   

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Royal Oak Offshore, there's no other wine out there as iconic as the Petrus Pomerol. A perfect match to the iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore.

Petrus is a Bordeaux wine from the Pomerol Appellation near the border with Saint-Èmilion. Petrus is produced by a very small winery that belongs to the Moueix family and Christian Moueix has been in charge of the winery since 1970. 

Today, Petrus is widely regarded as the most outstanding wine and one of the world's most expensive wines you could buy. Petrus vintage 2000, is a complex merlot grape wine with a bright ruby red color. Smooth but with a thick body, Petrus will leave hints of truffle and liqueur on the palate. A remarkably impressive wine that will finish with strong tannins. While the 2000 vintage is nowhere near 1998's vintage, this wine will be better enjoyed by the time the Royal Oak Offshore turns 40, just like the Royal Oak turned 40 last year.

Sticker price $4,700-5,000. For more info on the Royal Oak Offshore click here.

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet, Food Wine & Cigars and tagged Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Royal Oak Offshore ref Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721ST.OO.1000ST.01 20th Anniversary of the Royal Oak Offshore Petrus Pomerol Petrus Pomerol 2000 Price Petrus Pomerol Top Food 2013.

Encounter: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Shaquille O'Neal and the Arnold's All-Stars. Stumbling Into Two Giants.

Some time ago, while visiting Las Vegas, we stumbled upon these two fantastic Royal Oak Offshore limited edition references from Audemars Piguet. It had already been a day full of surprises while watch shopping, but running into these two watches was quite an experience.

Honestly, how often do you run into these two pieces at the same time?

Two real giants, not only in terms of size —both the ambassadors and the timepieces— but also, because of their desirability, collectability, limited quantities and wrist presence.

Let's start talking about the Royal Oak Offshore Shaquille O'Neal reference 26133ST.

This massive watch comes with a stainless steel over-sized case measuring 48mm. It is fitted with a beautiful contrasting hornback black crocodile strap with red stitching and a gorgeous black mega tappiserie dial with red accents on the flange, silver Arabic numerals and the numbers three and two in red —appearing in reversed order to celebrate the athlete's jersey number 32.

While most of you would think that this watch can only be worn by watchlifestylers as tall as Shaquille O'Neal —7' 1" in height—, we can tell you that after trying it on, that is not the case. Actually, it is very comfortable even if you are only 5' 10'' tall.

As you can appreciate in the pictures, the design behind this watch definitely evokes the greatness of the athlete. Audemars Piguet even created a wooden box shaped as a basketball to sell this fantastic watch. Sticker price of $35,000 if you can find one, remember this limited edition of 960 pieces is pretty much sold out everywhere. The Royal Oak Offshore Shaquille O'Neal is also available in 18K white gold with a diamond encrusted bezel —sold as reference 26134BC— in a limited edition of 96 pieces and a sticker price of $88,600.

Now, let's talk about the other giant. The Royal Oak Offshore Arnold's All-Stars After-School Adventures reference 26158OR comes also in a 48mm case but in 18K rose gold. Just as expected, the precious metal on this Royal Oak Offshore makes this watch ultra heavy and a real stunner. Fitted with a brown crocodile strap with cream stitching and a matte chocolate brown dial —with a combination of mega tappiserie and concentric circles right where the Arabic numerals in rose gold are applied—, this limited edition of 350 pieces has a sticker price of $83,100 and is not easy to find either.

Both timepieces feature the same type of case design —like that on the 'End of Days' Offshore—, rectangular chrono pushers, tang buckles on their straps and solid case backs with the ambassador's names and respective limited edition information.

For more info on other Audemars Piguet limited editions click here.  

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet and tagged RO Offshore Arnold's All-Stars ref. 26158OR Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Las Vegas Shaquille O'Neal RO Offshore Shaquille O'Neal ref. 26133ST RO Offshore Shaquille O'Neal ref. 26134BC Arnold Schwarzenegger 2013.

Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Forged Carbon Diver ref. 15706AU. The Other AP Bumble Bee.

A couple of days ago, we had the pleasure of meeting watchlifestyler Howie for lunch to meet his brand new Forged Carbon Royal Oak Offshore Diver ref. 15706AU.00.A002CA.01. This time, we met at the epicenter of downtown Chicago right at Millennium Park. After a delicious lunch at the Park Grill, we headed outside to the Jay Pritzker pavilion to take some pictures of his brand new Forged Carbon Diver under natural light. It was a rainy overcast day in Chicago—very typical during this time of the year—but the pictures still came out great.

The Forged Carbon Diver was presented at the SIHH back in 2012 but as with any other Audemars Piguet watch, you rarely run into one in person. There's something about the exclusivity of the brand that makes it so appealing. Our friend and watchlifestyler Howie decided to buy this beautiful watch just last week. After receiving the watch, he immediately called us to do the official unveiling of this fantastic piece in the company our Stainless Steel Diver.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver in Forged Carbon is a watch that can only be fully appreciated under natural light. Every time we've handled this watch under halogen or tungsten lamps, we feel it loses some of it's magic and beauty. Forged carbon has very unique attributes such as its resistance, lightness and a marbled look that feels satiny and smooth to the touch.

According to Yves Leuba, head of Audemars Piguet's forged carbon department, there cannot be two identical forged carbon cases due to its meticulous and unique production process. To make a forged carbon case, carbon fibers are distributed in a random manner inside a mold. When the material is compressed under heating, it evolves in an unpredictable way delivering a final product that is unique every time.

The forged carbon case, the ceramic bezel—that almost looks graphite gray as it reflects light—, the yellow accents and the lightness of the watch are just pure perfection. Putting a Forged Carbon Diver side-by-side with a Stainless Steel Diver makes the first one appear slightly smaller; however, as you all know, it is not as both measure 42mm. The Forged Carbon is also fitted with a rubber strap just like the stainless steel version; however, the pin buckle, case back and case plots are made of titanium.

We found it interesting that the sound coming from the oscillating weight on the Forged Carbon model was louder than the stainless steel one. Also, we noticed a change in the calendar font between both watches.

The Forged Carbon wears as comfortably as the stainless steel version and the yellow accents are quite discrete in person. They are not as flashy as one would imagine and they provide enough contrast to break up the blackness of the watch. From a design standpoint, it has just the right amount of color.

Audemars Piguet experimented with carbon watch parts in the 1980s and developed a keen sense for the material’s potential. The idea of using forged carbon for watch cases originated in a meeting between Audemars Piguet and Vincent Duqueine, head of the a French company owning the forged carbon technology. To take advantage of this material, Audemars Piguet developed extensive know-how, from manufacturing to equipment, based on the forging method employed in aeronautics. While Audemars Piguet has maintained the same philosophy, they have modified the technique for heating and cooling the molds where the cases are made. As a reference, the first model featuring forged carbon was the Royal Oak Offshore Alinghi Team that came out in 2007.

Sticker price on this beauty $27,100 USD. For more info click here.

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet and tagged Audemars Piguet Forged Carbon Diver AP FC Diver Royal Oak Offshore Diver 15706AU.00.A002CA.01 Millennium Park Jay Pritzker Pavilion Audemars Piguet Offshore Diver Yves Leuba Forged Carbon AP ROO FC Diver Forged Carbon Diver Posts 2013 2013.

News: New Audemars Piguet Boutique Opening. Miami Bal Harbour on May 15, 2013.

Audemars Piguet is pleased to announce its new boutique at the Bal Harbour Shops in South Florida. Scheduled to open on May 15th, the 990 sq. ft. boutique—which is located on the first floor near the Chanel boutique— is a revolutionary design that captures the 138-year old watchmaker's core values: its origins, artistry and extraordinary relationships.

 “By bringing the ‘manufacture to the boutique’, Audemars Piguet tells the story of its history, craftsmanship and exclusive relationships in the new Bal Harbour boutique,” says Xavier Nolot, CEO of Audemars Piguet North America.  “We’ve created a warm and inviting environment to satisfy our discerning clients’ every need.”

The boutique, crafted with wood and metallic landscapes evokes the Vallée de Joux region in Switzerland, where Audemars Piguet was born. The revolutionary design by the Creative Circle International Corporation of Switzerland in collaboration with Audemars Piguet's Creative Director Octavio Garcia is divided into two spaces: 'The Manufacture' and 'The House'.  

'The Manufacture' includes detailed product displays; a watchmaker corner; a virtual Manufacture depicting the manufacture’s activities; and educational content about how the singular watches and museum quality pieces are created.
 
'The House' incorporates a full service bar and lounge with a state-of-the-art sound system that invites clients to relax with an espresso or a cocktail.  One wall in 'The House' displays photographs and reminiscences of the many friends of the brand as well as Audemars Piguet’s commitment to environmental initiatives and corporate philanthropy.
 
The Audemars Piguet Bal Harbour Shops boutique will display over 100 timepieces from its vast collection reinforcing the watchmaker’s superb artistry and design by a number of contemporary craftsmen.
 
The Audemars Piguet Miami Bal Harbour Boutique is located at the Bal Harbour Shops on 9700 Collins Avenue, Space #159, Bal Harbour, FL 33154.
Phone number:  (305)864-6776
Toll Free:  (866)595-9700
 
Store Hours:
Monday – Saturday 10AM – 8:45PM
Sunday -   12noon – 5:45PM

For more info click here.

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet, News, Watch Shopping and tagged Audemars Piguet Boutique Bal Harbour Miami Audemars Piguet Miami Bal Harbour Xavier Nolot Audemars Piguet New Boutique Miami Bal Harbour Posts 2013 2013.

Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo ref. 5402. Restoration of a Two-Tone Jumbo.

This is the story of the restoration of a highly coveted Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 'Jumbo' reference 5402SA. The watch in question belongs to our Editor and Publisher, a true grail piece from one of the most iconic references in horology. This particular model, dating back to 1978, is part of the exclusive batch of two-tone Royal Oak Jumbos —the only series ever made in this configuration— of which only 951 pieces of this reference exist, with the serial number of this specific watch being under 300. It’s a rare and highly collectible piece in the Royal Oak lineage. This particular watch was once owned by Jorge Rojo Lugo —former governor of the Mexican state of Hidalgo— after it was gifted to him by former Mexican president José Lopez Portillo.

Given its age and the fact that it’s passed through multiple owners before landing in its final hands, the watch required significant restoration. The movement needed a complete overhaul, while the dial had suffered from flaking, leading Audemars Piguet to insist on a replacement as part of the service, as they wouldn't service the original dial. The bezel and case also required serious attention — the bezel had become overly rounded and thin, to the point where Audemars Piguet advised that this would be the last time it could be refinished. Despite the challenges, the restoration process has brought this legendary timepiece back to life, preserving its place as a true icon.

Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus serviced this piece and it took almost six months. By the pictures, you can tell that it almost looks like new and to be quite honest, there is no one other than Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus to refinish a Royal Oak to its original appearance. Just pay attention to the chamfers, bezel and case.

The History Behind The Watch

This watch was first purchased back in 1998. At the time, this was our Editor's third Royal Oak 5402 Jumbo. The watch was in good shape and running strong. This was one of his favorite Royal Oaks and it was purchased during a very successful time in his career. After a couple of years of ownership, the watch was sold. In 2004, the watch was repurchased from the person that it was sold to but in terrible condition and not running anymore. After several weeks, a talented watchmaker brought it back to life. Two years later, our Editor sold the watch one more time. Fast forward to 2008, and that's when our Editor stumbled upon a for sale listing with pictures of a watch that looked exactly like the one he had let go for the second time—the flaking on the dial was so unique that he was almost 100% sure it was his old piece. Immediately, he emailed the seller and asked if the serial number on the watch was 2XX. The seller replied the following day and confirmed that indeed that was the number. As any other watchlifestyler would do, he decided to purchase the watch back one more time.

Finally, in 2012 with the watch still running, our Editor decided to finally get a full service to bring his precious possession back to mint condition. Today, the watch is fully restored and looking almost like new. All original parts including the dial where returned by Audemars Piguet. The final result of this restoration is just superb.

The last picture at the bottom is one of the watch before the major overhaul. BIG KUDOS to Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus.

This is what we call top notch restoration service! For more info on Audemars Piguet click here.

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet and tagged Royal Oak Jumbo Royal Oak 5402 Audemars Piguet Posts 2013 Post 2013 2013.

Insider: Audemars Piguet Lady Royal Oak. A Daily Beater for 5 Years.

This watch belongs to a watchlifestyler that chose this watch as her daily beater, five years ago. Still in great condition, this timepiece is a great example of what a watch full of memories looks like. Received as a gift after having her last baby, this beautiful Audemars Piguet Lady Royal Oak has only left her wrist twice for the regular battery change intervals. The Lady Royal Oak ref. 60601ST is fitted with a quartz movement but ref. 77321ST is an automatic. We really prefer the automatic movements as they require less visits to the Audemars Piguet Service Centers, nevertheless, this particular watch is just perfection.

The Lady Royal Oak ref. 60601ST in stainless steel, is available on a bracelet or a crocodile strap. There's also the option to buy it without the diamond encrusted bezel. We love the diamond bezel, as it adds a flashy, yet elegant touch to the watch. The bracelet is solid and comfortable and has rounded links just like those on the bracelets fitted on Royal Oak Offshores. The clasp is a double folding clasp with safety lock. The case size is 33mm and comes with a nice and thick bezel set with 32 diamonds—4 per facet—totaling 0.65 carats of very high quality stones. The newer models have now 40 diamonds total. The dial alone is a piece of art with a pattern that resembles waves and hands and markers that look like leaves.

IMG_4714.JPG

The Lady Royal Oak is also a very versatile piece that can be worn dressed up or dressed down. This watchlifestyler wears it all the time, regardless of what she is doing or wearing. With a mono-block solid case—like that on the first Royal Oaks—, this watch is water resistant to a depth of 50m and has been to numerous beaches and pools around the world without any issues. The case back features the delicate engraving 'Lady Royal Oak' not present on older ladies Royal Oaks. This reference was the first one to bear such engraving. The Lady Royal Oak is also available in yellow gold and white gold.

After finishing our nice conversation with this watchlifestyler, we decided to take a couple of pictures of her watch on the wrist. The contrast between her all black Chanel attire and the silvery dial on the watch is just beautiful.

Now, here comes the warning. If your significant other happens to be around you while you are reading this review, better be ready to buy her one as it is very likely that she'll end up asking for it.  

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet and tagged Lady Royal Oak Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 60601 Posts 2013.

Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Ginza 7 Limited Edition. Sans Tapisserie.

The Royal Oak Offshore Ginza 7 Limited edition is one of the very few Offshores with a smooth dial that lacks the traditional 'Clous du Paris' traditional tapisserie that we typically find on almost all Royal Oaks and Offshores. We can only think of a handful of references that are missing the tapisserie like the discontinued rose gold and tantalum Royal Oaks, the Leo Messi Limited Edition and the Ginza 7.

The watch lifestyler behind this superb watch is an avid Audemars Piguet and Rolex collector that acquired this watch after falling in love with it while reading a magazine on his way to Japan. After thorough research and frequent travel to Asia, he finally experienced one at the Audemars Piguet boutique in Tokyo and he knew he had to have one, especially, due to his Japanese heritage and the noble cause behind the watch. As you can appreciate on the pictures, he decided to switch the crocodile strap that originally came with this watch for the rubber strap that comes with the Offshore Rubberclad. He wanted a sportier look and the ability to wear the watch everywhere. Nothing wrong with that.

The Royal Oak Offshore Ginza 7 Limited Edition is exclusively distributed for purchase at the Audemars Piguet boutique in Tokyo and is core part of the Audemars Piguet 'Support Japan' Project. This watch produced in a limited edition of only 200 pieces pledges 10% of its sales to the project. Launched in July of 2011, you rarely come across one of this beautiful watches in the wild. With its smooth dial you can appreciate the care and attention to details put forth by Audemars Piguet. The delicate thin rose gold surroundings on the chrono registers, the diamond encrusted '7' that from the distance almost looks metallic, the black calendar wheel with white font that ads a striking contrast and the Arabic numbers in charcoal gray that tend to almost disappear over the smooth black dial.

This watch offers great versatility as you can wear it with a casual attire or a formal one. To be honest, the Royal Oak Offshore Ginza 7 looks superb with almost anything. One great attribute of this watch is that is very stealthy and it’s definitely not the type of watch that screams for attention. On this watch like on any other Audemars Piguet watch, is hard to find design flaws, however, a very small downside is the lack of contrast on the running seconds hand at 12 o'clock making it hard to read when hacking the movement for time setting. Lastly, we would like to point out that this fantastic reference is fitted with a display case back for those of you that enjoy staring at the movement for hours. We also do, as it is extremely mesmerizing.

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet and tagged Royal Oak Offshore Audemars Piguet Ginza 7 ROO Ginza 7 Royal Oak Offshore Limited Edition Ginza 7 Posts 2013 2013.

Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15300ST. As Good as it Gets.

We have reviewed, owned and perused several Royal Oaks ref. 5402 "Jumbo". As you know, the ref. 5402 "Jumbo" was the first Royal Oak to be launched in 1972 fitted with an ultra-thin calibre 2121 —a masterpiece of 'haute horlogerie'— that changed the world of sports luxury watches forever.

Royal Oak purists tend to never considered buying a Royal Oak ref. 15300 as they feel they are betraying their true love for the ref. 5402 "Jumbo". However, we feel that the ref. 15300 is pure perfection and a robust Royal Oak with a quick-set calendar feature that makes it very desirable. The ref. 15300 is fitted with calibre 3120 which is called by some AP enthusiasts as "one of the greatest automatic movements ever made".

The case diameter is 39mm like on the "Jumbo", however, the ref. 15300 is thicker —than its predecessor— at 9.4mm. The watch wears a little bit smaller than the "Jumbo" as the proportions of the case and bezel are different, regardless that the case size is the same.

This watch just like any other Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is fitted with a beautiful solid link integrated bracelet. The bracelet has the unmistakeable AP grainy brushed finish with some polished areas at the end of the links and around the top and bottom of the center links. The bracelet is very solid and comfortable, however, the clasp is not my favorite part of this bracelet. The clasp is a double push button double folding clasp with AP shape blades on both ends of the interior of the clasp. We personally prefer the old school ref. 5402 blade clasp with fliplock, that happens to feel more sturdy and more comfortable.

The dial in this watch is a "Grande Tapisserie" (waffle pattern) in deep blue with white fonts. Depending on lighting conditions, it will almost look charcoal gray. The dial comes with white gold applied baton hour-markers and white gold Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating. The luminova is not very powerful and since the coated area in the hands and markers is very thin you don't get much brightness. Additionally, the luminova will wear out within a few hours after you go to bed. Not a big deal, just wanted to documented for those 'luminova lovers'. The calendar wheel is 'off-white' almost a very light ivory with all the numbers in the newer AP font with serifs opposed to the old school font in the 5402 and the 15202.

The movement is just gorgeous and quite accurate. This one has only lost 3 to 4 seconds a day —which is still under COSC specs— during the first week of daily wear.

Since this watch comes with a sapphire crystal case back you can admire the calibre 3120 through it. It's just gorgeous! The movement thickness with module is 4.26mm and a total diameter of 11¾ lignes. Frequency of balance wheel 3,00 (=21’600 alternances/hour) Hz, Bi-directional automatic winding with a 22K gold monobloc rotor fully decorated with the crest of the Audemars and Piguet families, 40 jewels, 60-hour power reserve and 280 parts, which IMHO is pretty impressive!

The Royal Oak ref. 15300 is actually more comfortable than the original Jumbo ref. 5402 and a perfect watch that matches all types of outfits—dressed down or suited up. Something else worth mentioning about the Royal Oak, is that is very understated and most of the time it flies under the radar unless you are near a serious watch lifestyler. Another clear advantage of the ref. 15300 over the ref. 5402 or the ref. 15202, is the quick-set calendar feature fitted on calibre 3120.

For those of you that always wonder whether the Royal Oak is suited for water activites, we can confidently say that there is nothing classier than relaxing in the pool with a Royal Oak and Vilebrequins.

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet and tagged Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15300 Royal Oak Posts 2013.

Rare Bird: An Unmarked Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721ST.OO.1000ST.01 a.k.a 'The Beast'. One Amazing Grail of Only 100 Pieces Without the Offshore Engraving.

Last year almost around this time, we received an email from a friend and watchlifestyler that lives in London asking for our advice on whether he should purchase or not an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721ST.OO.1000ST.01 fitted with the very same blue dial just as the very first original Royal Oak Offshore ever launched.

The seller, a very reputable store in Germany. The watch, in like new condition with box and papers but with no 'Offshore', 'AP' nor 'Automatic' markings on the case back —the last digits on the serials have been blurred for security reasons. Additionally, the No. engraving is missing the underline on the superscript o.

Once we received the pictures of the watch and checked the serial numbers against our early Royal Oak Offshore example—under the 200 serial range—we knew the watch was legit. The D-serial sequence on both watches had the right chronological order. Our watch pictured below —we have also blurred the last digits on the the serial numbers— was the one used for comparison purposes and to authenticate this situation.

However, we will admit that the lack of the 'Offshore', 'AP' and 'Automatic' engravings as well as the difference in the way the No. engraving is presented on the case back were somewhat confusing. Nevertheless, we've heard that the first 50 Offshores ever made, were missing these engravings. Were we looking at one of those collector's pieces? Could this one be one of them?

Based on the pictures we received, we followed our watch collector's instinct and our gut feeling and told our friend and watchlifestyler to move forward with the deal. We are so glad he followed our advice and purchased this rare example.

A few weeks after purchasing the watch, our friend and watchlifestyler reached out to Audemars Piguet, who has confirmed the authenticity of this piece. Additionally, he also reached out directly to Emmanuel Gueit —the creator of the Royal Oak Offshore—in order to confirm the situation regarding the lack of engravings. Based on all accounts previously mentioned, we can now confirm that this is one of the first 100 pieces ever made of the iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore.

Seems that the reason why the first 100 pieces of this reference don't bear the 'Offshore' engraving on it, it's because Audemars Piguet wasn't sure at the time whether this reference should've been called 'Offshore' or not. Interesting enough, the other early example of the Offshore—the one we used for authentication purposes of this 'rare' example—is exactly 115 pieces apart from this 'rarity'. The D-serial and Royal Oak No. consecutive numbers can attest it. 

When it comes to hunting down that one grail piece, sometimes going with your gut feeling is the best way to go. You don't want to end up regretting not getting that one grail you've always wanted.

For more info on Audemars Piguet click here.

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet and tagged Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Royal Oak Offshore 25721 Unmarked Royal Oak Offshore Unmarked Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Rare Find AP Royal Oak Offshore Unmarked Posts 2013 2013.

Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix. Only 1750 Out There.

The Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix Limited Edition ref. 26290 is a serious collector's grail. This Forged Carbon beauty is definitely one that will make a statement anywhere you wear it. Dressed up or dressed down, those who know will recognize it immediately.

Audemars Piguet has always been in the forefront when it comes to using materials that are rarely used by other watchmaking companies. Audemars Piguet started using these type of materials long before any other watchmaking company would do so back in the 1980's with the introduction of Tantalum and Rose Gold watches. Today, Audemars Piguet makes a statement with Forged Carbon and Ceramic.

The Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix embodies the powerful ties between watchmaking and automobiles. The same passion for design and the same incessant quest for mechanical performance. The sub-dials evoke dashboard instruments, the crown a gear, and the bezel a ventilated brake disc. Issued in limited edition series featuring meticulously executed details & cutting-edge materials. Whether viewed from the front, the side, or through the sapphire crystal back, all angles provide the same clear-cut impression of dynamic, aggressive, taut and complex shapes that are undeniably reminiscent of gleaming automobile bodywork.

This watch is so light that sometimes one can forget it is on the wrist. The attention to detail and craftsmanship is just at another level. This watch shows very clearly why Audemars Piguet is considered one of the three companies that conform the 'Holy Trinity of Watchmaking'. It is also well known by collectors and watch enthusiasts that forged carbon cases never look the same. All Forged Carbon pieces have their own unique character and finish, typical of handmade goods. The Grand Prix Limited Edition is available in Rose Gold and Forged Carbon in limited quantities of 650 and 1750 respectively.

This watch comes with a case made out of forged carbon fibers and a bezel made of forged carbon and black ceramic with eight titanium hex-head screws fastening the bezel to the case as well as the case back. The Grand Prix houses an Audemars Piguet Caliber 3126/3840, composed of 365 parts and a power reserve of 60 hours.

The strap on the Grand Prix is one of the most unique looking Audemars Piguet straps out there. Black calfskin and red alcantara, hand-sewn with red alcantara inserts and edges. Comfortable and beautiful at the same time. This strap exudes class.

The crown is made of blackened titanium with the AP logo in red, the chronograph pushers are made of titanium and black ceramic and comes with a sapphire crystal display case back. The plots that connect the case to the strap are made of titanium just like the tang buckle on the strap. The dial evokes different parts of auto super machines. The bronze flange is reminiscent of the magnesium alloy wheels on a race car. Running seconds at 12 o 'clock, 30-minute register at 9 o'clock and 12-hour register at 12 o'clock.

All in all, this is a wonderful reference suited for every day wear and one that will make a statement wherever you go.   

Sticker Price $45,000 USD. For more info click here.

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet and tagged Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix Post 2013 2013.

Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver ref. 15703. A Real Diver's Watch.

This time, we will be talking about the 'hottest' watch of 2012 and hard to find piece as every time authorized dealers get one is sells immediately . The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver. This watch ref. 15703ST is fitted with the same in-house caliber 3120 as the ref. 15300. Some Audemars Piguet enthusiasts refer to this movement as "one of the greatest automatic movements ever made". In our humble opinion, it is indeed one of the greatest and also very accurate. Power reserve up to 60 hours.

The case diameter is 42mm like on most Royal Oak Offshores, however, the ref. 15703 has a slightly flatter bezel that makes it appear much larger than 42mm. Actually the dial is 1mm wider than on other Royal Oak Offshores such as the ref. 25721. The thickness of the case is massive at 13.8mm, yet very comfortable. The usual matte finish and polished bevels/chamfers are just perfection! The movement is encased in a anti-magnetic casing that needs to be unscrewed after removing the case back. The case back is almost twice as thick as the case back in other Royal Oak Offshores to guarantee that the watch can withstand the pressure at 300m deep. Total weight of the watch 169grs.

This watch is fitted with a beautiful rubber strap with a thick rubber grain very different to other Offshore straps (i.e. Rubberclad ones) and comes with a tang buckle in stainless steel. The buckle is very solid with matte finish on the front but polished at the very end of the edge between the back and the front. The back of the clasp and pin are sand blasted featuring AP and ACIER INOX engravings.

The dial in this watch is a "Méga Tapisserie" (big waffle pattern) in black with white gold applied hour-markers and hands with luminescent coating and a inner rotating flange with diving scale that is also luminous. AP gave a glossy effect to this dial to make it appear as if it was wet. Just unbelievable nice and quite hard to appreciate in pictures. This dial comes with the classic double-baton hour marker at 12 o'clock like on the 5402ST or the 15202ST.

The luminova is not the most powerful, but with enough brightness and several hours of night life. If you are a crazy 'luminova lover' you will be disappointed. When it comes to brightness of the super-luminova at night we can only think of IWC, Blancpain and Omega.

The calendar wheel is black with white fonts and the date aperture is square shaped instead of round as in most Offshores. The date aperture comes with a built-in loupe that appears to be glareproofed. If you notice on some of the pics, the date window appears to have a very slight blueish tint around the corners. The numbers on the calendar use the newer AP font with serifs opposed to the old school font in the 5402 and the 15202. The pictures make the font on the calendar wheel appear quite thick and solid white, but in real life they don't look that solid to us, especially the double-digit dates.

The watch is fitted with very sturdy over-sized Rubberclad—opposed to Therban as in most Offshore screw-down crowns. These crowns are used  for setting the time and rotating the inner flange diving scale. In order to rotate the inner flange diving scale, you need to unscrew the crown at the 10 o'clock position and then rotate clockwise. The crown needs to be screwed back in before immersion in the water. The flange only rotates in one direction and the clicks are perfectly aligned with the minute markers on the dial. The main crown comes with a large AP engraving while the flange rotating crown comes with a circle around the perimeter.

The watch is fitted with a anti-reflective one-side coated sapphire crystal. The coating has only been applied to the interior of the crystal and not to the outside. The crystal is quite thick and sturdy. It sits into the bezel flatter than on other Royal Oak Offshores where you can see the edge of the crystal protuding even more.

After wearing the watch for one full day, all we can say is WOW! The watch wears very comfortably, it matches all types of outfits —dressed down or suited up— and the understated look of it is unparalleled.

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet and tagged Offshore Diver Royal Oak Offshore Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 15703 Audemars Piguet Diver Posts 2013.

Experience: Color Combos with Audemars Piguet

In case you were wondering how well checkered shirts go with Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore watches. Some of our favorite combos.  

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Fashion & Style, Audemars Piguet and tagged Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver Royal Oak Jumbo 2013.

Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Equation Du Temps ref. 26603. Pure Perfection.

During a private meeting with Audemars Piguet we were able to experience several timepieces including the Royal Oak Equation of Time —Equation Du Temps— which in our opinion is probably one of the most amazing complications by Audemars Piguet. The Equation of Time watch exudes class, character and charm. This watch comes with custom sunrise and sunset times and perpetual calendar with astronomic moon. It is available in stainless steel or rose gold with a crocodile strap either in black or brown respectively.

L1010373 copy.JPG

Fitted with the caliber 2120 /2808 manufacture this beauty has a power reserve of up to 40 hours and 425 parts. Sunrise and sunset times can be changed upon customer's request as well as decoration to the oscillating weight on the watch. This watch features a perpetual calendar with day, date, month and leap year, astronomical moon phases and sunrise/sunset times. The watch dial comes with the legendary 'grande tappisserie' and anodized blue hands for all the functions with the exception of the hour and minute hands.

Sticker Price for this beauty $68,700.00

The following Audemars Piguet video shows the functioning of this complication.

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet and tagged Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Equation of Time Royal Oak Equation Du Temps Complication Posts 2013 2013 2014.

Experience: Making of an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Case

One of the most fascinating industry videos by Audemars Piguet. As you will see in the video it takes talent, passion, precision and extreme quality control to create the iconic Royal Oak case. Making a Royal Oak case is a subtle dance between accuracy of modern machinery and the expertise of meticulous hands and sharp eyes.

Read more …
Posted on April 1, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet and tagged Audemars Piguet Video Royal Oak Posts 2013 2013.

Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721ST.OO.1000ST.01. The Very First One a.k.a 'The Beast' and the Most Beautiful in our Opinion.

In my opinion the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721ST.00.1000ST.01 is the most beautiful sports watch ever made by Audemars Piguet. This timepiece is sporty yet very elegant and classy at the same time. A watch that goes great with a suit or with jeans and a t-shirt. My love for this particular watch dates back to the late 90's when after owning several Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks Jumbos ref. 5402 —three Stainless Steel Jumbos to be precise and several Two-Tones—, I spotted in person what would become one of my true grails and a watch that was an unattainable back then —at least for where I was in my career at 26 years of age. I still remember that very first encounter as if it was today. Back in 1998 during a high level meeting with the CEO of Grupo Televisa —the largest media conglomerate in Latin America— I noticed him wearing what I thought was the nicest AP I had ever seen. I had never seen one in person until then. My 'dream watch' —at the time— was born during that encounter. It was the first Royal Oak Offshore launched back in 1993. That Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore with the blue/grayish unmistakable dial that is now a discontinued model.

Read more …
Posted on April 1, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet and tagged Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Royal Oak Offshore 25721 Firt Royal Oak Offshore Audemars Piguet Offshore 25721ST.OO.1000ST.01 Posts 2013 2013.

Audemars Piguet: New Ceramic Offshore Diver ref. 15707CE

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver ref. 15707CE.00.A002CA.01

Back in January, Audemars Piguet presented their new pieces for 2013 at the SIHH. This time the new pieces included the new Royal Oak Offshore Diver in ceramic.  This time the iconic and 'hot watch' Offshore Diver makes its appearance in a black ceramic case, titanium glareproofed sapphire crystal caseback—allowing view of the caliber 3120— black ceramic bezel and crowns and titanium links.

The dial in the traditional black “Méga Tapisserie” pattern with white gold applied hour-markers and hands with luminescent coating, black rotating inner bezel ring with diving scale and zone from 12 to 3 o’clock in orange.

The watch comes fitted with the same black rubber strap that comes on the stainless steel and forged carbon models but with a titanium pin buckle.

Once again, Audemars Piguet continues to be at the forefront of watch design and use of avant-garde materials in the industry.  

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet, News and tagged Audemars Piguet New Ceramic Offshore Diver ref. 15707CE 2013.