Audemars Piguet’s astounding 2018 ladies collection

Audemars Piguet ladies collection

With the idea that women’s watches are more than “shrinking, pinking and adding a few diamonds” to men’s watches, Audemars Piguet feels that they need to reflect the individuality of each wearer, appealing to her curiosity, and triggering emotion.

Two timepieces that combine haute horlogerie and haute joaillerie enter the Royal Oak collection, while the Millenary line is enriched with three new models

Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon

This timepiece is the first Audemars Piguet flying tourbillon and the first Royal Oak Concept watch for women. The intricate mechanics of the movement give new dynamism to impeccable gem-setting.

Haute Horlogerie combines with Haute Joaillerie in these two generously dimensioned 38.5 mm wristwatches available in 18-carat white gold – either set with brilliant-cut diamonds or baguette-cut diamonds.

The watch has the added fascination of a dynamic complication that appears to float. Satin-finished bridges, polished angles and white lacquered decorations are visible through the sapphire crystal case back, and on the dial, there’s a glimpse of the open-worked barrel at 11 o’clock, a snowflake amid diamond-set icicles.

Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked

The new 37 mm Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked features the calibre 3132, which was first introduced in 2016 in the brand’s 41 mm Royal Oak case.

By incorporating two balance wheels and two hairsprings that are assembled on the same axis, the system oscillates in pure harmony.

This patented mechanism involves a complex fabrication procedure that improves precision and stability, while allowing the beating heart of the watch to be visible from both sides of the case.

The movement is rhodium-plated to softly highlight the golden regulating organ and the upper balance bridge. The indexes and hands perfectly match this refined set.

Additionally, all the finishing operations on the bridges and mainplate – such as bevelling, chamfering, polishing, satin-brushing, and circular satin-brushing – are done by hand.

Millenary

Two new Millenary models come in white gold and pink gold with mother-of-pearl dials and diamond-set bezel and lugs, with an additional innovative touch – matching, Polish woven gold bracelets.

The beautifully crafted bracelets are made in the classic Polish style to give a supple mesh that fits comfortably on the wrist, like a second skin.

Both Milanese and Polish mesh bracelets are made from long, gold-wire ‘springs’ that are woven together to obtain a chainmail structure that can be sawn, welded, and assembled by hand.

The difference between the two lies in the way the wires are rolled up.

With the Milanese bracelet, the wires are arranged in the same direction resulting in a simpler construction. In the more complex Polish style, the wires are arranged in alternate directions, giving a richer, smoother finish.

Millenary (Opal Dial)

For many cultures, the opal is a lucky charm. It is also a fragile stone that is exceptionally challenging to work. The cut and polished opals used in the new Millenary model are chosen with extreme care.

Only the most precious, white stones are selected for their vivid iridescence. Each one is unique, with its own fire; essentially made from silica and water, the opal’s silica spheres are arranged in more-or-less compact structures that dissect light, transforming it according to the angle of observation.

The white opal dial is framed by the 18-carat pink gold case with Frosted Gold finish on the case sides, bezel, inner bezel, and lugs. The Frosted Gold effect is set off by a pink gold Polish mesh bracelet.