I visited the AP booth today at W&W and was assisted by a very professional and friendly brand representative even though I am not an AP collector.
Here are some pictures to share
Firstly, the AP booth was the most cosy and comfortable booth in W&W imho. I don't know why but after visiting many dimly lit booths, I find the brightly lit AP booth very refreshing and I really felt very comfortable in the booth.
The booth reception. Pretty nice!
The key novelty for AP at W&W is the Royal Oak Offshore Tourbillon Chronograph with a completely new caliber 2897. I was fortunate to be given the chance to handle it and play with the chrono pushers and I was very impressed with the watch.
There were a few features of this watch which impressed me (as a non AP collector).
Firstly, it is an automatic watch but it doesn't have a rotor to block the view of the movement at its caseback. The tourbillon chronograph movement is beautifully finished and it will be a shame to block it with a full rotor. The trick AP used is a very innovative oscillating weight at the outer edge of the movement. This oscillating weight is crafted from 950 PT and enables very efficient winding without sacrificing a full appreciation of the movement at the caseback. Genius!
The other thing I appreciate in this new AP ROO Tourbillon Chrono is the pusher feel of the Chrono. The pusher feels relatively light when pushed (almost as creamy feel as my Wongraph, i.e. Red Gold Black Dial Datograph, which I wore to the AP booth) and I like the pusher feel a lot for start/stop and reset all three.
Alongside the new ROO Tourbillon Chrono is an older AP extra thin tourbillon from 1986. This was the first self-winding Tourbillon wrist watch. I was only 8 years old then!
And now they have another automatic Tourbillon in the new AP ROO Tourbillon Chronograph.
Another new model is the Millenary Quadriennium. This complication sits between annual calendar and a perpetual calendar. It accounts for all 30th and 31st of each month as well as 28th Feb to 1 Mar adjustments until the leap year, when the owner needs to advance the date himself. An annual calendar cannot account for 28th to 29th Feb or 1 Mar at all whether leap year or not. This watch also has the iconic AP escapement with a double balance spring.
An extra thin Royal Oak that is entirely open worked. The finishing of the open worked movement is a marvel indeed.
A tray of AP ROs! For me to try!
I really love this 15202 but even at 39mm, it is a tad big for me. Love the blue dial but something about the lugs doesn't work for me
The 37mm AP RO fits me better but I prefer the blue dial!
Hope you enjoyed this photo report and I would like to thank the booth staff for helping me and letting me try all these watches
cheers
robin