We still remember like it was yesterday, our first visit in 2013 to what is now ‘the old Audemars Piguet Museum’. The original museum was nestled in the historical building where Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet established the manufacture in 1875 in Le Brassus, Switzerland. The ‘old AP museum’ was very small, intimate, and a space full of charm that transported you back in time. However, it lacked the necessary space to properly showcase a large number of historical pieces in the museum’s collection, and it wasn’t very functional due to its multilevel layout.
Posts filed under Audemars Piguet
News: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin Yoshida Exclusive ref. 15206PT
Audemars Piguet presents a brand new iteration of the legendary iconic Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin in a limited edition of 70 pieces and exclusively available at watch retailer Yoshida in Tokyo, Japan. Since the establishment of their business in 1920, Yoshida set up a store along Koshu Street in Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. In 2020, Yoshida will proudly celebrate its 100th anniversary, and this new AP along with its 18K rose gold version is one of the watches they are presenting to commemorate the occasion. The case back features a special engraving ‘Limited Edition of 70 Pieces’.
News: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin Yoshida Exclusive ref. 15207OR
Audemars Piguet presents a brand new iteration of the legendary iconic Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin in a limited edition of 30 pieces and exclusively available at watch retailer Yoshida in Tokyo, Japan. Since the establishment of their business in 1920, Yoshida set up a store along Koshu Street in Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. In 2020, YOSHIDA will proudly celebrate its 100th anniversary, and this new AP is one of the watches they are presenting to commemorate the occasion.
Experience: Audemars Piguet Automatic Movement Oversized Scale Model. Simply Incredible for the Home or the Office.
If you ever dreamed of what a supersized reproduction of an Audemars Piguet movement would look like sitting on your desk, dream no further. Audemars Piguet has just made available what in our opinion is one of the coolest and most incredible watch related items that a watch collector could own. This actual reproduction of a selfwinding Audemars Piguet movement that is not the 40-jewel calibre 3120 nor the new 38-jewle calibre 4302, is an exact reproduction of an actual AP movement with all of its components —all of them of course supersized more than hundred or a thousand times. Even the jewels, bridges, the architecture and finishes are exactly done in the exact same way.
News: Presenting the Audemars Piguet [Re]master01 Selfwinding Chronograph
People are very cognizant of the design shakeup that took place in the 1970s and in the early 2000s. However, creative expressions of case form and dial design have occurred during every decade of our history. For the new Audemars Piguet [Re]master01, the brand is exploring the strength and elegance of one of their chronograph wristwatches from 1943 through the prism of 2020. This is not a historic reissue but a contemporary remastering of one of their past creations.
Eye Candy: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 44 Platinum ref. 26401PO. Heavyweight Blues.
A classic in platinum for those that know and crave the best, the Royal Oak Offshore 44 was originally introduced in 2011 by Audemars Piguet with a 44 mm diameter case and a whole new design under ref. 26400. Three years later, Audemars Piguet released the 44 mm Royal Oak Offshore in platinum 950 reference 26401PO we have here. Now officially discontinued, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore 44mm Platinum ref. 26401PO.OO.A018CR.01 features a blue dial and a blue alligator strap that is somewhat reminiscent of the platinum Royal Oak Offshore Rubens Barrichello II.
News: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar China Limited Edition. 88 Pieces in Titanium in Collaboration with Horoloupe.
For the very first time, Audemars Piguet unveils a Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar limited edition in full titanium exclusively crafted for the Chinese market. This limited edition of 88 pieces celebrates the Manufacture’s enduring history with China. For this limited edition, Audemars Piguet has chosen a dedicated complication embodying the Manufacture’s DNA. Featuring an ultra-light titanium case and bracelet hand-finished with an alternation of satin-brushed and polished surfaces. The slate grey “Grande Tapisserie” dial provides a delicate contrast with the black subdials and inner bezel as well as the white hour-markers.
Eye Candy: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked ref. 15407ST
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked ref. 15407 is without a doubt one of the top watch grails to own when it comes to AP and in general. With a case measuring 41 mm and 5.51 mm in thickness, its movement tackles the stabilizing issues by fixing a second balance wheel and balance-spring assembly on the same axis. The new patented geometry involves a very complex manufacturing procedure, but the payoff is huge by having greatly improved precision and stability. Fitted with a slate grey open-worked dial with white gold applied hour-markers and Royal Oak hands with luminescent coating, this watch is truly a stunner.
Eye Candy: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked Black Ceramic ref. 26343CE. A Haute Horlogerie Black Knight.
First released in 2018 at the SIHH, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked Black Ceramic ref. 26343CE was presented on a rubber strap and in a limited edition of 25 pieces in four different color accents on its minute track. But to make things even more interesting this year, Audemars Piguet also released the Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph Openworked Black Ceramic with a matching black ceramic bracelet and in a limited edition of 100 pieces. This new reference 26343CE.OO.1247CE.01 watch features a 30-minute chronograph and a tourbillon in a full black ceramic look.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Ultra-Thin ref. 26586IP. The World's Thinnest Automatic Perpetual Calendar.
Perpetual calendars come in all forms, shapes, metals, and prices. However, few brands stand out from the rest as far as their perpetual calendars in terms of history, reliability, and prestige. When you are looking for a perpetual calendar the first brand names that pop up would be Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin as these make the ‘holy trinity of watchmaking’. Audemars Piguet has a long history making perpetual calendars and after the successful release of the Royal Oak Perpetual ref. 26574 at the end of 2015, the brand pushed the envelope even further in 2018 presenting a prototype of what would become the world’s thinnest automatic perpetual calendar.
News: Presenting the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked Black Ceramic ref. 26585CE
Perhaps the hottest watch released by Audemars Piguet this year, the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar makes a new appearance now with an openworked dial and cloaked in a black ceramic case. The new Audemars Piguet ref. 26585CE.OO.1225CE.01 is a true feat of technical mastery with its openworked sapphire dial and the movement’s visible pink gold components. Measuring 41 mm in diameter like all other Royal Oak Perpetual Calendars released as of the end of 2015.
News: Presenting the Audemars Piguet Millenary Frosted Gold Philosophique ref. 77266. A Stunning One-Handed Timepiece.
In the 70s, the advent of quartz shook the foundation of the watchmaking industry, spurring watchmakers to find innovative solutions to the ravages caused by the emergence of this new technology. The Manufacture responded by breaking mechanical records with its world’s thinnest perpetual calendar mechanism in 1978, as well as by releasing revolutionary mechanical watches combining tradition and avant-garde design. Audemars Piguet introduced its first hand-wound “Philosophique” watch in 1982, inviting wearers to question the notion of passing time. This model referred back to the beginning of time measurement devices, which were equipped with a single hour hand until the beginning of the 18th century to simplify energy transmission.
News: Audemars Piguet to Open Boutique in Atlanta with Watches of Switzerland
With boutiques firmly established in New York, Las Vegas, East Hampton, Bal Harbour and Beverly Hills, Audemars Piguet will open an exciting new boutique in Atlanta, Georgia. In a natural and auspicious pairing, the brand will partner with The Watches of Switzerland Group for the brand’s latest location in the popular Lenox Square shopping center that will open at the end of July. Since 1959, Lenox Square has been the premier shopping destination for high-end shoppers in the Southeast. Located in the heart of the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, Lenox Square offers an unparalleled shopping experience.
From the Editor: What Makes the AP Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar the Perfect Daily Wearer?
Perpetual calendars come in all forms, shapes, metals and prices. However, few brands stand out from the rest as far as their perpetual calendars in terms of history, reliability and prestige. When you are looking for a perpetual calendar the first brand names that pop up would be Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin as these make the ‘holy trinity of watchmaking’. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual —Quantième Perpétuel— ref. 26574 was released at the end of 2015 and since then, it holds ‘watch grail status’.
Rare Bird: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721TI. The Titanium Lightweight Beast.
Since we are the largest source of information on the web for all Audemars Piguet related things, we want to talk about a watch that tends to fly under the radar and that we like to refer to as a rare bird. Slightly less important than the first Royal Oak Offshore ‘The Beast’, the ‘titanium beast’ is still quite rare with very low production numbers. Often mistaken by many as the first Royal Oak Offshore, the titanium reference 25721TI was released five years after the launch of the original Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721ST in stainless steel. The reference 25721TI in titanium was only produced for six years and six dials were available at the time.
Insider: Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 Perpetual Calendar. Its Aventurine Dial Evokes the Starry Sky from Le Brassus.
The Audemars Piguet CODE 11.59 Perpetual Calendar is part of the new collection unveiled back in January of this year and which caused major reactions from collectors and the press after its release. The CODE 11.59 Perpetual ref. 26394OR.OO.D321CR.01 shares the same 41 mm case construction as all the other watches in the 11.59 collection with a case that combines a round shape and an octagonal caseband. The octagonal middle case is simply gorgeous but very hard to appreciate unless you are holding the watch and looking straight at the case band. Featuring a blue aventurine dial that evokes the starry sky from Le Brassus, the warm tones of the 18K pink gold case against the highly refractive and almost iridescent midnight blue dial play an exquisite color symphony made to please the most demanding watch collectors.
Breaking News: Patrick Ottomani Appointed CEO of Audemars Piguet North America
In an unexpected move, Mr. Patrick Ottomani has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Audemars Piguet North America, effective April 8, 2019. Based in the company’s New York City office, Mr. Ottomani oversees all responsibilities previously held by Antonio Seward and reports directly to Mr. Yves Meylan, Chief Commercial Officer, in Le Brassus, Switzerland. Mr. Ottomani rose through the ranks of the luxury industry with tenures in the hospitality business in London, Paris and Dublin. He joined Berluti as Chief Executive Officer in 1993, when the brand was acquired by LVMH.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Camouflage ref. 26401RO and ref. 26400SO. Three Colorful 44 mm Offshores for Spring.
Initially perceived as a controversial watch by many and nicknamed by us as the 'Combat' because of its color scheme and unique camouflage pattern rubber strap, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 26400SO.OO.A054CA.01. was the fist 44 mm Royal Oak Offshore to dive into the waters of the ‘camouflage’ look in 2018. This year, three new camouflage iterations were released by Audemars Piguet while the Royal Oak Offshore ‘Combat’ is now officially discontinued. Adhering to the case construction of the Royal Oak Offshore 44 with ceramic bezel and ceramic pushers and crown, the new iterations are all offered with an additional solid color strap —blue, green and brown— for those not crazy about the camo pattern strap.
News: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chrono ref. 26338PT 'Unique Piece' Sells for USD 220,000 at the One Night for One Drop Foundation Gala
Despite its estimated value of USD 112,000, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chrono ‘Unique Piece’ ref. 26338PT.OO.1220PT.01 sold for almost double its price hammering USD 220,000 at the 7th annual One Night for One Drop event imagined by Cirque du Soleil. Sold along five other lots that included a McLaren 570S Spider by MSO —one of six—, a private jet round-trip to a Turks and Caicos Island Villa on Parrot Cay, a Serengeti Safari-Living Experience in Tanzania, a 7-night getaway at the Château Saint Tropez for 12 Guests, and a luxury 7-night Journey aboard the Residential Yacht, The World; this very special unique piece Royal Oak helped in raising funds and awareness to benefit critical water issues worldwide.
Eye Candy: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Double Balance 'Rainbow'. There's a Pot of Gold at the End of Every Rainbow.
With a unique look and following the steps of other watch manufactures like Rolex, comes the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Frosted Gold Double Balance Wheel Openworked ‘Rainbow’ reference 15468BC.YG.1259BC.01. This new model cased in a 37 mm frosted 18K white gold case, sports a bezel featuring 32 baguette-cut ‘rainbow-colored’ sapphires totaling 2.24 carats. The sapphires have been all individually cut and set in a breathtaking way. The openworked rhodium-toned dial exposes the golden double balance wheel mechanism at 8 o’clock, which happens to be visible on both sides of the watch.
