Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet Restoration Workshop

 

Perhaps my favorite part of the AP Factory trip was the visit to the AP Restoration Workshop.  Located on the highest level of the original Jules Audemars house in Le Brassus (and the AP Museum is also located in this building), the room is the workplace for 2 specialized master watchmakers.   The function here is the restoration of old and highly complicated AP timepieces.  Watches that cannot be serviced anywhere else. 

We saw a variety of vintage and complicated pieces in various stages in the RW.  When the pieces are received, they are logged in.  Next, an initial estimate is made as to what the timepiece requires.  We were told that some pieces can require a week just to evaluate what needs to be completed to restore the sample to proper order.  After this work is complete, the client is notified with the repair estimate and decides what to do.  It was apparent that on most of the old and special pieces, the client's primary interest is the perfect restoration of their timepiece.

We observed an incredible pocket watch that was made in 1899.  It was being evaluated for a movement overhaul.  While I cannot share photos, it was one of the most beautiful man made creations I have ever seen.  Two pieces were originally made, and its value is astronomical.

It should also be noted that AP allows these watchmakers to take on special pieces and projects that were created by other brands.  The goal is to keep alive the wonderful watchmaking tradition that has always been the DNA of the Vallee de Joux.


In this very room, Jules Audemars and Edward Piguet worked together after founding the company in 1875.  It was rather inspiring to be in this area.

One of the watchmaker's desks.  Many of the tools they use are very old.

An original storage cabinet for parts and projects

As we have mentioned in previous posts, everyone at AP and APRP was overly accommodating when our small group would pass by.  It was no different in the Restoration Workshop, despite our arriving just ahead of the lunch hour.  After a brief introduction by Michel Golay and an opportunity to look around, we could have left.  Instead, one of the watchmakers engaged us and started speaking in French about some various projects.  And now the real learning began.

It was interesting to observe that in the Restoration Workshop, the watchmakers fabricate their own parts as required.  Here, look at the hand drawn document detailing an axle that was required for an old watch.  Note the entire height of the axle is 1.60mm!   Note all of the detail and steps that are needed over this extremely short height.  See the part?

Well here it is, so easy to see now ;-)  Seriously, you need a loupe to observe that all of the detail in the drawing is indeed on the hand made part.  Astounding.

Next, we talked about the gongs used in minute repeaters.  The watchmaker was sizing and tuning a gong for a project.  The piece gets heated and shortened to achieve the proper tone.  If either process is over done, the part is useless and needs to be remade from scratch.

See that little genie lamp thing on the left side of the photo?  That is an old heating torch for the gong.  The watchmaker held the gong in a small plate hanging on chains and with the other hand held the flaming torch below.  Very old school technique.

And after the heating demonstration, he held the gong in place and tapped it to reveal its beautiful acoustic qualities.  While our group might not have been experts in judging this sound, we all agreed it was pretty much spot on

A secured cabinet reveals many original projects that were taken to various stages of completion.

Some boxes contain pieces that were never finished for various reasons.

We heard many interesting stories about what some of the boxes contained.  Here we see a letter written by Jules Audemars in the late 1800s with notes about the pocket watch inside.

Every box seemed to be like its own time capsule.  Drawings, notes, parts, etc.  It really made you think what it was like so many years ago.

 When I walked out of the AP Restoration Workshop, I was struck with the worrisome thought of what would happen if these two master watchmakers were not there.  I loosely discussed it with Michel.  He told me not to worry, the watchmakers were still "relatively young"   And with everything AP, there are no doubt plans in place to ensure that the incredible watchmaking tradition of the Vallee de Joux will continue to be carried forward for hundreds of years to come...

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