Audemars Piguet

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A must-see report!

Dear Ken, thank you for your report. I'd like to add my impressions.

First of all: the wonderful panoramas you've shot from the car during the road to Le Brassus look as the fairy tales ones, but… at 80 Km/h... I think they turned to a nightmare... ;-)

The family tree of the Audemars and the Piguets, and the cross between each (you’ve properly outlined the recent marriage between Michelle Piguet and Philippe Audemars) and the other major Maisons is really interesting, since it clearly depicts how the Vallée de Joux villages where (and are) connected, also by family links.

The Atelier des Tourbillons fascinates me more than the Design department because generally the APs don’t speak to me from the aesthetical point of view. I’m not a Royal Oak fan – even if I really like some references of this family – while I really like the Star Wheels.

And finally, the Atelier de Restoration: for me, the very beating heart of your report. For the second time, here we find hints of the links established during the centuries between the horlogers living and working in the Vallée de Joux. The boxes in the vault, still to be completely archived, make me dream about working in a similar Atelier: I would do it even for free, during my holidays! And the box with the unfinished movement? Absolutely uber-cool!!! I’m sure if I had it in my hand I’d immediately start designing a watch over it. The minute repeater restoration of course is incredibly outstanding too, but I think is a bit far from my personal experience as a watch-lover. The balance wheel axis for the ultra-thin movement and its sketch (enlarged by 50 or 100X?) could really be the epitome of the entire restoration department.

Finally, I’m completely with you: this Museum worth a visit. If one day a PoT will be organized in Le Brassus, with mandatory accommodation in the Hôtel des Horlogers… well, I’ll be in!!!

it's really a pity that AP didn’t allowed any pictures during the Manufacture tour. I wonder why.

Ciao,

Elio

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