Audemars Piguet

Royal Oak perpetual calendar squelette,a personal horological achivement.

 

 

That's how I see it.
The opportunity came along ,I didn't  think much but those days were long and a little painful as I had to make a quick move.
I usually take my time ,I ve learnt that compulsive buys are not good and that usually my guts are right,whether they give me a good or sometimes bad feeling.
Though I took the plunge and went for it,I couldn't t pass.
It wasn't in my short term plans nor shortlisted for future acquisition,but there was always a special place in my heart for the Royal Oak perpetual calendar Skeleton,it always symbolized for me the epitome of haute horologerie and finesse,a mature achievement,a connoisseurs watch,but for some reasons always secluded in the dream watches department,almost unobtainable,a watch to consider in the future.
I had to make a sacrifice and let go my 15305,a watch I adored and I ve worn for a year,but I couldn't justify keeping both,as it was a little redundant in my small collection.So i took the decision to go for this sophisticated lady,even though I didn't(according to my standards)put enough thoughts to it.I received the last little push from a fellow Purists/Mod/inspiration(you know who you are).
The watch arrived,the sense of overwhelm hasn t left me yet,I will have time to know more about it,to enjoy it more to understand it and appreciate it.This is a watch that matures with you like an old bottle of wine,a watch that will never stops amazing you and that will reveal itself over and over with new aspects and details.
The first feeling is one of elegance,finesse,delicacy;a huge contrast between the ever so amazing modern design of the RO and the hugely refined movement,the slimness of the case and the incredible achievement to manage to fill it up with so much horological abundance.

 

 The bracelet,case,clasp are much thinner than the 15300/15305 in the true spirit of the Jumbo,much more delicate and elegant.What is it with this icreible design that we are all still in love with?Timeless.

 

 The dial is mesmerizing,some might claim for more legibility,but here you admire time and on the other hand my sight is pretty good.

A dial/movement that has 2 sides and 2 distinctive characters,a more technical,modern look underneath the dial surface,a more traditional skeletonization and decoration on the back.2completely different approaches that complement each other soooo well.
Front

 

 beauty of the mighty back:

 

 
 Everything in this watch screams elegance from the fantastic golden moon phase

to the detail I admire the most:hour and minute hands are amongst the most beautiful I ve seen,so slender and elegant with their leaf shape and different colour,a fantastic tone of grey.Note how the minute hand goes over the superbly printed railroad track,giving great legibility....

and the blued calendar hands

What else can I say I will let the pictures talk,I will take more in time,but I wanted to share  even though I posted a couple already.All these pictures are not consistent,I wanted to use different light,backgrounds,effects as its quite a difficult watch to photograph.I hope I did a decent job with it and that you all enjoy.

Today I feel more horologic-ally mature,i don t know if it makes sense but that's how I feel......
Yours,Mo