Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Complication: Review

holdemchamp1225 · 2022-08-12T15:16:54Z

Explore the Audemars Piguet Natural Escapement through holdemchamp1225's review. Discover its lubricant-free design, exquisite finishing, and unique movement architecture.

holdemchamp1225

WPS member · Audemars Piguet forum

62 replies15435 views3 photos

In this captivating article, holdemchamp1225 shares his long-held admiration for the Audemars Piguet Natural Escapement, a horological marvel renowned for its lubricant-free operation. He delves into the exquisite execution, architectural brilliance, and superior finishing of this significant timepiece. His personal journey of embracing larger watches adds a relatable dimension to his appreciation for this 'horological monster.'

I will explain the back story another time but I can say I have admired the AP Natural Escapement for it's non use of lubricants for a long time. Thr execution, architecture, and top finishing of this model just blew me away when I first saw it.

It is a BIG piece so I was always afraid it would look silly on my chicken 🐔 wrist but since my outlook has changed within the last few years, I have learned to accept things for what they are and just try to enjoy them as I go through this crazy life 🙉🙈🙊

The grand feu enamel dial is exquisite as expected and the hands are just so uber cool. The more I look at it, the more details I find that just shows how much time and effort went into making this piece of art.

Just look at the amount of interior angles and finishing that went into the movement. This is what AP should do more of if you ask me 🤷‍♂️

It is a BEAST but I do love it so much for not compromising what it was meant to be. Remind me a lot of my Romain Gauthier Logical One without the fusée and chain 😉

Key Points from the Discussion

The Audemars Piguet Natural Escapement draws inspiration from an 18th-century Robin mechanism, combining the high efficiency of a direct-impulse escapement with the reliability of a Swiss lever escapement.
The movement plate is crafted from solid gold, not brass or German steel, and features a hand-made guilloché pattern resembling fish scales or barleycorn, executed with a rose engine similar to techniques used by independent watchmakers like Kari Voutilainen.
The 6Hz movement offers superior stability, rate, chronometry, and shock resistance, with its architecture, concept, execution, and finishing comparable to top-tier independent watchmakers such as Romain Gauthier, Rexhep Rexhepi, Roger Smith, Voutilainen, and De Bethune.
The Robin Escapement in this watch is notably loud and may not always be self-starting, sometimes requiring a gentle shake to initiate operation even when fully wound.
The discontinuation of the Jules Audemars line, which included this significant piece, is a shame, as it represented a technological and aesthetic pinnacle for Audemars Piguet beyond the Royal Oak series.
Many collectors are rediscovering earlier, craft-focused pieces from brands like Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Roger Dubuis, highlighting a trend back to foundational horological artistry.

The Discussion

Lankysudanese

Aug 12, 2022

Another horological home-run pick-up, Justin. Wasn’t aware that AP had dabbled in NE in the past; thought it was just Journe, Laurent ferrier and Kari during the yesteryears I look forward to more photos. Congrats again Hussam

AuHavrePro

Aug 12, 2022

It's a marvelously executed watch. Thanks for sharing the pictures with us! Much enjoyment to you with it, Filip

mrds

Aug 12, 2022

Fascinating- on both sides! Huge congrats on this new addition, my friend. You’re really going for the heavyweights!

GWIS

Aug 12, 2022

I bet that in real life the depth and details of the dial and movement look even more fascinating than in your pictures! Enjoy! All the best, Jon

cazalea

Aug 12, 2022

LINK The new Millenary Minute Repeater is entirely in line with this longstanding tradition, while adopting the latest technological breakthroughs developed by Audemars Piguet, starting with the new AP escapement. As an essential component in the smooth running of a watch, the escapement serves to sequence the linear energy transmitted by the barrel. Drawing inspiration from a mechanism created in the late 18th century by a watchmaker named Robin, Audemars Piguet developed a new escapement combi

Clueless_Collector

Aug 12, 2022

When did AP make watches like that? I see a trend of collectors going back to earlier days of some brands like RD, PF and this AP etc but I have to agree this is where the craft is. Huge congratulations and now we have to go hunt them quick before you scoop them allZ Cheers 🍻

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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Complication: Review

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