This autumn, Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet complements its Royal Oak Frosted Gold Double Balance Wheel Openworked series with three new references in 41 mm and two in 37 mm, shot by the leading fashion photographer, Harley Weir, merging two intricate world’s of couture.
“What is a woman’s watch?” asks Suzanne Wong, the founder of Watch Femme, a female-centric community strengthening women’s voicesin fine watchmaking. “It is a watch owned by a woman. I don’t see any clearer way to put that.” While the watchmaking industry notoriously associates its history books tailored to the wrists of men, the scope of women’s watches continues to grow in an attempt to combat the reliance upon outdated gender classifications and marketing campaigns.
Addressing the disconnect, Audemars Piguet debuts their latest Summer 2021 collection for the modern woman in an authentic way, shooting the campaign from a female perspective through the lens of esteemed photographer, Harley Weir.
Placing emphasis on the feeling behind the watches, Audemars Piguet enlists the vision of Weir, known for her youth-focused eye challenging traditional attitudes to the female gaze through a unique intimacy to her images. In doing so, she encourages the wearer to feel free-spirited and confident with the eclectic colorways and savoir-faire materials, and embrace the timepieces as extensions of personality.
The glistening effect of the Frosted Gold case and bracelet is emphasized by the array of vivid and brilliant rainbow-coloured gemstones carefully selected to reach a harmonious colour spectrum. These contrasted plays of light illuminate the Manufacture’s state-of-the-art openworked double balance wheel mechanism visible on both sides of the watch. Blending age-old techniques with contemporary design, these new timepieces radiate timeless elegance.
The rainbow bezel and Frosted Gold case open onto the openworked Manufacture movement, Calibre 3132, and its double balance wheel mechanism. This patented innovation, released by Audemars Piguet in 2016, improves the watch’s precision and stability. By incorporating two balance wheels and two hairsprings assembled on the same axis, the system oscillates in perfect synchrony, the double balance wheel confers a rare glimpse at the watch’s beating heart.
Complimenting the new Royal Oak Frosted Gold Double Balance Wheel Openworked series with three new adaptations in 41mm and two in 37mm. Drawing on the intricate detailing of Haute Couture, rainbow bezels feature alongside multicoloured gemstones, creating a fusion of colour bringing vivid hues to the wrist to prove the watch is not merely an accessory but intrinsic to the wearer. Blending age-old techniques with contemporary design, these new timepieces radiate timeless elegance.
A NEW 34 MM ROYAL OAK SELFWINDING DRESSED IN BLACK CERAMICS
The polished collection commences with the new Royal Oak Selfwinding in black ceramic, intensified with pink and gold accents for a neat two-tone contrast, timeless and versatile in its presence.
A NEW ROYAL OAK FROSTED GOLD SELFWINDING MODEL IN 34 MM
Alongside the Royal Oak Selfwinding Collection, Audemars Piguet expands its line with a new iteration, glistening in frosted gold. A jewellery technique developed in 2016 in collaboration with Italian jewellery designer Carolina Bucci, this 18-carat white gold piece is further enhanced with a Tapisserie dial in new shades of blue, created during the early pandemic proving innovation and craftsmanship continues to thrive in the face of hardship.
THE NEW ROYAL OAK SELFWINDING CHRONOGRAPH PLAYS WITH COLOUR AND LIGHT
For the first time in its history, Audemars Piguet presents a solid 18-carat pink and gold timepiece in a larger 38mm with bezels set amongst baguette-cut amethysts in harmony with the timepiece’s purple dial. Developed by the Manufacturer’s artisans, the timepiece’s dial displays a range of purple hues that flicker with merriment, changing colour in the light.
