Recently, I was invited by Audemars Piguet to explore their beautiful novelties 2011 during an outstanding dinner at Schloss Schauenstein, spoilt by chef Andreas Caminada.The creative, often surprising and always satisfying cuisine of the charming young Swiss has won him 3 Michelin stars and 19 GaultMillau points. Believe me, it was a feast for the eyes, in both ways.
In 2011, Audemars Piguet has entirely reviewed the fundamentals of the Jules Audemars collection, its moon-phase calendar and dual timezone models, as well as its simple selfwinding watches including those with a date display.
The Jules Audemars extra-thin watch houses one of the world’s thinnest selfwinding movements measuring just 2.45 mm thick. Its slender case, streamlined bezel and pure dial generate genuine emotion of the kind surrounding objects that are built to last, because this timepiece is endowed with that special something that is in fact the natural elegance of authentic classics.
JULES AUDEMARS EXTRA-THIN
Reference • 15180BC.OO.A002CR.01, CHF 23.600.-
Movement • Proprietary ultra-thin, selfwinding Calibre 2120
• Total diameter: 28,40 mm (12 ¾ lignes)
• Casing diameter: 28 mm
• Thickness: 2.45 mm
• 37 jewels
• 214 parts
• Power reserve: up to 40 hours
• Cadence of the balance: 19,800 vibrations per hour (2.75 Hz)
• Finishing: all parts finished by hand; mainplate rhodium-plated, bevelled and circular-grained; bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève.
Case • 18-carat white gold • Diameter: 41 mm • Thickness: 6.7 m • Water resistance: 20 m • Sapphire crystal
Dial • Silvered with applied pink gold hour-markers • Pink gold hour and minute hands
Strap • Hand-sewn black crocodile leather with large square scales, secured by an 18-carat white gold pin buckle
Functions • Hours and minutes
The Jules Audemars selfwinding watch comes in three different interpretations: pink gold with silver-toned or black dial, and white gold with a silver-toned dial. Each may be adorned with a diamond-set bezel to create three additional versions. All feature a round case, a streamlined bezel and an understated dial. All display a discreetly self-effacing air that serves to highlight their sleek, slender lines.
My personal favourite is the one with the pink gold case and the black dial, preferably with a diamond-set bezel, a true authentic classy and elegant watch.
JULES AUDEMARS SELFWINDING
References
• 15170OR.OO.A002CR.01, CHF 18.600,
18-carat pink gold case, black dial
• 15171OR.ZZ.A002CR.01, CHF 21.900 , 18-carat pink gold case, black dial, diamonds
Movement • Proprietary selfwinding Calibre 3120
• Total diameter: 26.60 mm (11¾ lignes)
• Casing diameter: 26 mm
• Thickness: 4.26 mm
• 40 jewels
• 278 parts
• 22-carat gold oscillating weight
• Up to 60-hour power reserve
• Cadence of the balance: 21,600 vibrations per hour
• Variable-inertia balance with eight inertia-blocks and flat balance-spring
• Geneva-type mobile balance-spring stud-holder
• Three-position winding crown
• Finishing: all parts decorated; mainplate circular-grained; bridges rhodium-plated, bevelled, snailed and adorned with a Côtes de Genève. Diamond-polished jewel sinks; diamond-polished sinks and bevelled spokes on the wheels; bevelled screw rim and slot
• AP monogram and Audemars and Piguet family crests engraved on the oscillating weight
Cases • 18-carat pink gold, also available with a bezel set with 70 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.60 carats) or
• 18-carat white gold, also available with a bezel set with 70 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.60 carats)
• Diameter: 39 mm
• Thickness: 9 mm
• Water resistance: 20 m
• Sapphire crystal case-back
Dials
• Silver-toned or black with applied pink gold hour-markers
• Pink gold hour and minutes hands
Bracelets
• Hand-sewn brown or black crocodile leather with large square scales, secured by a pin buckle in 18-carat pink or white gold
Functions • Hours and minutes • Date
In order to grasp the essence of the Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph, you need to pick up the watch with your eyes closed and only open them after turning it over. Housed within a case that strongly hints at its innate sturdiness, protected by a sapphire crystal and a solid back secured by eight polished steel screws, a true masterpiece is revealed: the new selfwinding Calibre 2897, equipped with a tourbillon and a chronograph. A set of 335 parts on which the manually adjusted, corrected, bevelled and decorated surfaces create a shimmering play on light and shade. The automatic winding is ensured by a peripheral oscillating weight, while its chronograph is equipped with a column wheel and its tourbillon optimises its rating precision.
Its design is sophisticated and powerful, supported by a combination of iconic black-coloured materials: forged carbon for the case middle, ceramic for the bezel and rubber for the strap. A watch with two faces, the Royal Oak Offshore Selfwinding Tourbillon Chronograph is an amazing blend of two worlds.
ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE SELFWINDING TOURBILLON CHRONOGRAPH
Reference • 26550AU.OO.A002CA.01, CHF 262.500
Forged carbon case; bezel, crown and pushpieces in black ceramics; pushpiece-guards and fastening studs in titanium
Movement • Selfwinding Calibre 2897 with tourbillon and column-wheel chronograph
• Total diameter: (15½ lignes)
• Casing diameter: 31.40 mm
• Thickness: 7.75 mm
• 34 jewels
• 335 parts
• 65-hour power reserve
• Cadence of the balance: 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz)
• Variable-inertia balance with screws and balance-spring with Phillips terminal curve
• Finishing: all parts finely hand decorated; bridges and mainplate rhodiumed, circular-grained, beadblasted and hand-drawn with file strokes; polished angles, bevelled screw rims and slots
• Peripheral oscillating weight in circular satin-brushed 950 platinum
Case • Diameter : 44 mm • Thickness : 14 mm • Sapphire crystal caseback with Royal Oak Offshore engraving
Dial • Black with exclusive “Méga Tapisserie” motif, silver-toned counters. Applied and facetted white gold hour-markers with luminescent coating. Black flange. White gold facetted hour and minute hands with luminescent coating.
Strap • Black rubber, adorned with two grooves. Titanium pin buckle.
Functions • Hours and minutes • Small seconds at 9 o’clock • Chronograph with central sweep-seconds hand, 30-minute counter (at 3 o’clock) • Tachometric scale on the flange
2011 marks a new milestone in the historic partnership between Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Audemars Piguet, one of the most unique relationships in the watch industry. These two legends have collaborated to create the ultimate collector timepiece, The Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy Chronograph, a perfect blend of strength and control. This is anticipated to be the last watch in the series created by Schwarzenegger and Audemars Piguet. I am pretty sure of that!
ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER THE LEGACY CHRONOGRAPH
Reference • 26378IO.OO.A001KE.01 , CHF 44.500, 1500-piece limited edition
Movement • Selfwinding Calibre 2326/2840
• Total diameter: 29.92 mm (13 ¼ lignes)
• Casing diameter: 26 mm
• Thickness: 6.2 mm
• 50 jewels
• 370 parts
• 38-hour power reserve
• Cadence of the balance: 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
• Variable-inertia balance with inertia-blocks and flat balance-spring
• Three-position winding crown
• Finishing: all parts finely decorated; mainplate rhodium-plated, bevelled and circular-grained; bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève
Case • Black ceramic case, bezel; beadblasted titanium screws, beadblasted titanium elements on the left • side of the case • Pushpiece-guards in rubber and beadblasted titanium • 18-carat pink gold pushpieces, contact surface adorned with gridwork pattern • Black ceramic crown adorned with a pink gold disc • Diameter: 48 mm • Thickness: 14.1 mm vBeadblasted titanium caseback engraved with the inscription Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy, steel screws • Water resistance: 100 metres
Dial • Black with exclusive “Méga Tapisserie” motif • Numerals and hour-markers in diamond-polished pink gold • Facetted hour and minute hands with luminescent coating
Strap • Anthracite aramid fibres, secured by beadblasted titanium pin buckle. Additional strap in hand sewn black crocodile leather with large square scales
Functions • Hours and minutes • Small seconds • Chronograph with centre sweep-seconds hand, 30-minute and 12-hour counters at 9 and 6 o’clock respectively • Tachometric scale • Date
Famous chef Andreas Caminada and Audemars Piguet CEO Phillippe Merck with me in the middle.
A very big thank you to Audemars Piguet and Andreas Caminada for such a lovely and yummy presentation! An evening of two superlatives…
LoL, Sandra
