A very sad day in the world of luxury, fashion and glamour as Karl Lagerfeld passed away today February 19, 2019. Karl Otto Lagerfeld was a German creative director that led design at Chloé, Chanel and Fendi amongst others. In his early days as the mastermind of the fashion house Chloé, where Lagerfeld worked until 1992 —with a short 8-year hiatus in the 80s—, the are numerous pictures that were taken by Daniel Simon at Gamma-Rapho where Karl Lagerfeld is wearing nothing else than a ‘blacked out’ Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo ref. 5402ST A-series.
Posts filed under Audemars Piguet
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 26480TI. Is this the Next Generation of the 42 mm Offshores?
With all the attention focused on the new CODE 11.59 collection, many of the other Audemars Piguet new watch releases flew under the radar and such is the case of the new Royal Oak Offshore ref. 26480TI.OO.A027CA.01 released at the SIHH 2019. This new watch sporting a 42 mm case in titanium is a perfect hybrid between the previous generation of 42 mm Royal Oak Offshores and the 44 mm ones. Sporting a totally new designed set of crown guards, pushers and crown, the new Royal Oak Offshore ref. 26480 shows a more robust and modern look. In addition to the redesigned case elements, the dial, flange and hands also received a face lift.
Insider: Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 Tourbillon Openworked. Unequivocally AP In Every Way.
A couple of weeks ago we shared with you our overall perspective on the new Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 collection here. If you haven’t read that article, we recommend that you do. While not all the watches in the new CODE 11.59 collection were our cup of tea, there are three that stand out and one of them is the Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 Tourbillon Openworked. This new watch is not only unequivocally AP all the way but a watch within this polarizing new collection were the DNA from the brand permeated through the whole design of the timepiece the right way.
SIHH 2019: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26574PT Ice Blue. Live Pictures of the 50-Piece Limited Edition.
With most of the Midwest under below freezing temperatures and the polar vortex in full, there’s no better watch to bring some heat and ice —at the same time— to our readers in Chicago —our old stomping grounds and the city that saw WCL come to fruition— than with a new iteration of the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar quietly unveiled at the SIHH 2019. Just another one of those very special watches that we got to see and shoot for you. After the release of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar for Latin America ref. 26584OR.OO.1220OR.O1 —one of the hottest watches in 2018—, now comes this version in solid platinum sporting an ice blue dial with navy blue accents. The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26574PT.OO.1220PT.01, joins the other four Royal Oak Perpetual Calendars fitted with a 41 mm case and the new automatic calibre 5134.
SIHH 2019: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin Black Ceramic ref. 26522CE. Live Pictures & Pricing.
After the success of the black ceramic Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, Audemars Piguet brings back the heat this time with the intense blackness of this limited edition of 100 pieces of the Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin. An incredibly sexy watch in person, the black ceramic is satin-finished and polished just like any metal Royal Oak. Cased in a generous 41 mm case, this time the Tourbillon Extra-Thin featured a sunburst pattern on the dial radiating all the way from the cage of the tourbillon to the perimeter on what is called the “Tapisserie Evolutive” pattern.
SIHH 2019: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 44 'Pride of Germany' Limited Edition. Live Pictures & Details.
While the attention was centered on the new CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet as well as some of the new Royal Oaks released by the brand, there’s a pair of new watches that barely anyone got to see and that we were able to even shoot for you. The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph 44 ‘Pride of Germany’ comes in two iterations and is the first time that AP releases a ‘Pride’ edition in a 44 mm case. The first one, an 18K rose gold model with black ceramic bezel ref. 26416RO.OO.A002CA.01 and the second one, a full black ceramic —case and bezel— model ref. 26415CE.OO.A002CA.01. Without a doubt, our favorite iterations of the Royal Oak Offshore 44 line.
SIHH 2019: Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 Collection. Live Pics, Details & Our Point of View.
As soon as we saw the first pictures that were leaked of the new CODE 11.59 by Audemars Piguet collection, we decided to respectfully wait until we saw the watch in the metal before we could pass any judgement. While our first impressions based on those pictures were not positive, the right thing to do for WCL was to wait for the dust to settle and not comment anything until we had perused the new watches long enough to provide an unbiased point of view and our honest impressions.
SIHH 2019: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15500. Live Pictures, Pricing and Detailed Explanation of Nuances.
With the release of the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15500 with a 41 mm case, the 41 mm Royal Oak reference 15400 is now officially discontinued. While many felt that the reference 15400 was not perfect, to us it was a very well balanced Royal Oak in terms of overall proportions and design. When the Royal Oak reference 15400 first came out in 2012, collectors of the brand were critical about the fact that the AP calibre 3120 seemed relatively too small for a 41 mm case size —as it was originally launched for the 39 mm reference 15300—, and that due to that, the date aperture was positioned too far to the left needing a small hash marker to its right.
SIHH 2019: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin White Gold ref. 15202BC with Pink Toned Dial. Live Pictures & Pricing.
First released in 2012 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Royal Oak Jumbo ref. 5402, the Royal Oak Extra-Thin Jumbo ref. 15202 is the closest one can get to the original Royal Oak from 1972. After several iterations have been released of this watch in stainless steel, 18K rose gold, 18K yellow gold with green dial for The Hourglass and more recently in 18K yellow gold with two different dials, the saga of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin continues this year at the SIHH 2019 with an 18K white gold case and a pink gold toned dial.
SIHH 2019: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Frosted Gold Double Balance Openworked 'Rainbow' ref. 15468BC
Continuing with the release of Frosted Gold watches, Audemars Piguet presents the new Royal Oak Frosted Gold Double Balance Wheel Openworked ‘Rainbow’ reference 15468BC.YG.1259BC.01 with a 37 mm frosted 18K white gold case and a bezel featuring 32 baguette-cut ‘rainbow-coloured’ sapphires —2.24 carats—, all individually cut. It’s a breath-taking setting for the rhodium-toned openworked dial and golden double balance wheel mechanism, visible on both sides of the watch.
SIHH 2019: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin White Gold ref. 15202BC with Pink Toned Dial
First released in 2012 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Royal Oak Jumbo ref. 5402, the Royal Oak Extra-Thin Jumbo ref. 15202 is the closest one can get to the original Royal Oak from 1972. After several iterations have been released of this watch in stainless steel, 18K rose gold, 18K yellow gold with green dial for The Hourglass and more recently in 18K yellow gold with two different dials, the saga of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin continues this year at the SIHH 2019 with an 18K white gold case and a pink gold toned dial —very salmon looking at least in these images provided by AP. We’ll have to see once we see the watch in person.
SIHH 2019: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 44 Grey Ceramic ref. 26405CG
Much like in the previous two years, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 44 collection keeps getting updated every year at the time of the SIHH. This time at the SIHH 2019, the Royal Oak Offshore 44 mm ref. 26405CG.OO.A004CA.01 is being given a grey ceramic case with grey ceramic bezel, crown and pushers and a rubber strap in a hue that brings out the grey “Méga Tapisserie” dial with blue counters and inner bezel also in blue. The rubber strap is fastened by a titanium pin buckle and the watch continues to be powered by the calibre 3126/3840 with a power reserve of 50 hours.
SIHH 2019: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin Black Ceramic ref. 26522CE. A 100-Piece Limited Edition.
After the success of the black ceramic Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar, Audemars Piguet brings back the heat this time with the intense blackness of this limited edition of 100 pieces of the Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin. The black ceramic satin-finished and polished case measuring 41 mm is seven times harder than steel. Featuring a sunburst pattern on the dial radiating all the way from the cage of the tourbillon to the perimeter, the new Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-Thin Black Ceramic ref. 26522CE.OO.1225CE.01 sports what is called the “Tapisserie Evolutive” pattern.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin Tourbillon Platinum ref. 26516PT with Baguette-Cut Diamond Bezel. Hands-on Review.
Amongst other fifteen references of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin Tourbillon which include: stainless steel, 18K rose gold, the Westime Edition —with or without diamonds—, 18K yellow gold, imited edition openworked in platinum and in 18K yellow gold, platinum and titanium reference 26510PT in platinum, frosted gold and the new models with the ‘Evolutive’ tapisserie dials, comes the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Extra-Thin Tourbillon diamond-set platinum model ref. 26516PT.ZZ.1220PT.01 with a bezel featuring with 32 baguette-cut diamonds totaling 3.04 carats. Yet another one of those AP grails for those in love with diamonds.
Insider: Pricing Guide for the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721ST 'The Beast'. Commanding Higher Prices, After Emmanuel Gueit's Sold for CHF 102,500 Swiss Francs.
n the past month, we've been contacted by several collectors trying to get more information regarding the first series of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore a.k.a. 'The Beast' ref. 25721ST.OO.1000ST.01. with its iconic queen blue dial —more about this particular hue of blue here. Also, recently we've found more activity in places like Timezone, ThePurists and TRF, regarding this iconic watch.
Experience: Audemars Piguet Private Dinner with Watch Collecting Lifestyle. Where Gold AP Watches Were the Common Denominator.
Yesterday November 13, 2018, we had the honor of hosting a private dinner with our friends from Audemars Piguet at one of Dallas’ best steakhouses. With Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House as our meeting point, the common denominator for the night, were the so many gold APs on the wrists of our watch collecting friends. From the massive 334-gram Royal Oak Offshore Chrono in 18K rose gold with ruthenium dial ref. 26470OR on our wrist, to the vintage-inspired champagne color dial Royal Oak Extra-Thin Jumbo in 18K yellow gold ref. 15202BA on the wrist of one of our friends, to the ultra-rare and exclusive 200-piece limited edition Royal Oak Frosted Gold in 18K white gold with a stunning 'grande tapisserie' blue dial ref. 15410BC, these were not the only gold AP watches on the wrists of our guests.
Eye Candy: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon Ladies. Fire and Ice.
Like the snow blizzard that puts out the campfire, the ladies Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon ref. 26227BC.ZZ.D011CR.01 with its diamond encrusted case is like ice on fire as the watch rests over a Feu de Bois Diptyque candle. With its perfectly sized 38.5 mm white gold case, the watch’s distinctive aesthetic brilliantly evokes winter in the Vallée de Joux where it takes its inspiration. The white gold dial sparkles with diamond-set, faceted pyramids and white lacquer finishing as the openwork ‘snowflake’ barrel echoes diamond ‘ice’ on the flying tourbillon escapement.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked. The Watch First Unveiled by Shanghai Watch Gang Founder @Horoloupe.
The latest and greatest from Audemars Piguet is the new Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked ref. 26587TI.OO.D031CA.01. First unveiled on Instagram by one of the founders of the Shanghai Watch Gang, watch collector Chu a.k.a. @horoloupe —the first watch collector to own this watch and who told us he owns the actual prototype of this watch—, the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked is the first Royal Oak Concept selfwinding model since the collection's introduction in 2002.
Experience: Audemars Piguet Suite at the SIAR 2018. Bringing the Look and Feel of the AP House to Mexico City.
Following the ‘Le Brassus’ theme but with an edgier and even more modern look, Audemars Piguet presented a new setup at the SIAR 2018 in Mexico City. Somewhat mirroring the look of their recently unveiled Audemars Piguet Houses throughout the world, the AP Suite was not only very inviting but also a cozy place where one could just hang out for hours. Just like every year, AP found the perfect balance between highlighting its horological prowess, the display of the timepieces in their collection, the watches from their museum and their passion for art with the Audemars Piguet Art Commission.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 26584OR Latin America. A Stunning 100-Piece Limited Edition with Bracelet and Strap.
Introduced in April, 2018, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar for Latin America ref. 26584OR.OO.1220OR.01 is one of the hottest watches this year. Featuring a gorgeous pink gold toned dial with dark blue subdials, this watch in 18K pink gold is sold with a matching 18K pink gold bracelet accompanied by an additional blue alligator strap with AP folding clasp also in gold. This new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Quantième Perpétuel —Perpetual Calendar— ref. 26584OR, joins the other three new Royal Oak Perpetual Calendars fitted with a 41 mm case and the new automatic calibre 5134.
