A Private Night with Audemars Piguet

It might be long overdue, but how can I not share my experience of a wonderful night with AP which opened my eyes to some of the most exquisite complications from my favorite watch house?

On 19 Nov 2014, AP Singapore hosted a private dinner at Morton's, one of the best steakhouses, and showcased an array of complicated watches from the antique to the most avant-garde. Sebastian Vivas, the Museum Director from Le Brassus, was flew in specially to share his knowledge on some of AP's most important timepieces as well as the latest high complications. 

Antonio introducing Sebastian

As usual, key members from the AP family: Oliviero, Antonio, Bindy, Stefanie and Jeremie were ever so hospitable as they chatted heartily with the invited guests and AP enthusiasts amidst the delicious food and wines. In between courses, Sebastian would 'pop up' for a few minutes of presentations, then followed by trays of beautiful watches being dished out for admiration. The up-close experience with these highly complicated watches was very unique, and how I wished I had a 10x loupe handy to scrutinize the craft works of the complex movements.   

The first perpetual calendar wrist watch with leap year display (1955)

Jules Audemars 26390OR Perpetual Calendar 

Prototype of AP's first self-winding tourbillon wristwatch (1986)

Jules Audemars 26356PT Openworked Minute Repeater with Jumping Hour

Royal Oak Offshore 26388PO Tourbillon Chronograph

ChronAP 26153OR

The dinner was ended after nearly 4 hours of feasting to the eyes and appetites. There was a particular chat among Sebastian, Antonio, Jeremie and myself which I found interesting to share… When Sebastian was teased for being an AP historian who knows every little thing about AP's past, he rebutted by saying that he also knows a little bit about AP's future, as his knowledge of the past also value-adds to the future product designs. Doesn't it resonate well with AP's now famed tag-line: "To break the rules, you must first master them" ? 

Best,

Wayne

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More eye-candies:

Grand Complication (1970)

Edward Piguet Tourbillon in Platinum case with movement mainplate and bridges in rutilated quartz (2001) 

Grand Complication in Platinum "Traditional" Case

Grande Sonnerie, Perpetual Calendar, Chronograph (1909)

(Dial Side)

Grande Sonnerie, Perpetual Calendar, Chronograph (1909)

(Movement Side)

Minute Repeater (1891)

Prototype of AP's first self-winding tourbillon wristwatch (1986)

Jules Audemars 26356PT Openworked Minute Repeater with Jumping Hour

Jules Audemars 26356PT Openworked Minute Repeater with Jumping Hour

Jules Audemars 26356PT Openworked Minute Repeater with Jumping Hour

Royal Oak Offshore 26388PO Tourbillon Chronograph

Royal Oak Offshore 26388PO Tourbillon Chronograph

Royal Oak Offshore 26388PO Tourbillon Chronograph

ChronAP 26153OR

ChronAP 26153OR