New Release
Ornatus-Mundi (Magnus & Oliver) delivers an in-depth, subjective review of Audemars Piguet's SIHH 2014 novelties, focusing on the Millenary, Royal Oak, and Royal Oak Offshore collections. Their comprehensive report aims to provide collectors with detailed impressions of how AP successfully evolved its iconic lines without diluting brand identity, showcasing both new entries and fascinating details from the exhibition.
Is it a real novelty or just a new variation of something outstanding? β¦β¦ To us, the Millenary Minute Repeater in red gold is APβs highlight of the show this year. We have lots to talk about this. We were cheating a bit: technically, the AP Millenary Minute Repeater is not a new watch, it existed already as a limited Titanium model with an anthracite dial: The technical parameters are all the same: 47mm width, 15.79mm thickness. Obvious differences: red gold case ... ... magnificent fired enamel
Now, this is our next eye-opening model: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon in WHITE! Who could have expected it? We are so used to the black models across the board globally, but white models are getting popularity. But this white and greyish combination model is so nice. Not Panda, but really Spartan look sports watch, indeed. First some short contextual information : Originally presented 12 years ago (!), the Concept Watch 1 (CW1), a groundbreaking timepiece designed to hono
Those were the days ...! 21 years ago AP shocked the watch world with a new watch, unprecedented: the (then!) humongous 42mm Royal Oak Offshore . A strong watch, heavy, with presence thanks to the prominent use of rubberised accents (bezal seal, pushers, crown), solid case back and (for the chronograph at least!) a modular movement based upon a JLC ebauche. One main difference to the original Royal Oak was the three- instead of two-part case construction. Many, many versions have been presented
Let's start (again) with a look back into AP's history - which proves one fact: Watches for women have a long and strong history at Audemars Piguet! Two novelties were presented this year, both in 41mm and with admirable gem-setting work, the Royal Oak Automatic and the Automatic Chronograph : Some may argue if a 41mm watch is only for woman, just because there are diamonds. Well, it is not β because there are different tastes/lifestyles in different parts of the world. Still at AP they are part
Lastly we have the most affordable ladyβs Royal Oak in the line-up: the Royal Oak Offshore Quartz : 37mm diameter, 11.1mm thickness, stainless steel or rose gold case. The diamond-set bezel and crown are both rubber-clad. Again, here are white dial and (rubber) strap. Its a robust watch with a flat profile, flatter than its predecessor. For us enthusiasts its a pity that its quartz-driven (which is reasonable given its intended audience, active women who certainly do not want to worry about thei
Audemars Piguet has once more demonstrated what it takes to keep a truly classic collection alive, the Royal Oak : develop the core ( Royal Oak ), add an avant-garde segment ( Concept Watch ), and add spice to the Offshore sports offerings. This allows a brand to serve different market niches and segments without resorting to a random and staid one-fits-it-all solution. The true mastery of AP is manifest in two facts: (i) all 'sub-collections' are around since more than one decade , and (ii) - m
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