Ornatus-Mundi[Zenith]
7136
Audemars Piguet @ SIHH 2014 - conclusion
Mar 01, 2014,23:54 PM
Audemars Piguet has once more demonstrated what it takes to keep a truly classic collection alive, the Royal Oak: develop the core (Royal Oak), add an avant-garde segment (Concept Watch), and add spice to the Offshore sports offerings.
This allows a brand to serve different market niches and segments without resorting to a random and staid one-fits-it-all solution. The true mastery of AP is manifest in two facts: (i) all 'sub-collections' are around since more than one decade, and (ii) - most importantly - all are meanwhile veritable classics on their own account.
For the 2014 novelties AP has played all cards - design, materials, mechanics. In terms of design, we love the stark contrast of the Concept watch, the subtle magic of the ROO as well as the magnificent gem setting of the ladies' RO. Materials - the change from rubber to ceramics is most welcome. And who would not appreciate the collection-wide use of in-house manufacture movement, mostly visible now, or the technically advanced Tourbillon GMT movement?
Finally, all of the aspects above are represented in distilled form in the crown of this year's creations: the Millenary Minute Repeater.
What is missing? We could have imagined to see something nobody exptected - the big surprise, or a reinterpretation of the Metropolis or maybe of the Starwheel (perhaps that will come to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2016?).
Nonetheless, there is not a single decision regarding the novelties shown we would revoke if put at the AP helm. Well done!
Cheers and thanks for reading,
Magnus & Oliver
P.S.: Special thanks to Ken (KIH) for assisting us in putting together this report!
This message has been edited by Ornatus-Mundi on 2014-03-04 13:15:55