PuristSPro visits the AP Heritage Museum and Restoration Workshop in Le Brassus

Jul 17, 2014,10:18 AM
 

Continuing with our coverage of my recent trip to the Audemars Piguet facilities in Switzerland, let's head into the AP Heritage Museum and Restoration Workshop.


Our group was hosted by Sebastian Vivas, Museum Director, and Michael Friedman, AP Historian and Global Ambassador.  The first thing Sebastian wanted to show us were the original books which go back all the way to 1875, when Audemars Piguet was founded.  Since this time, every piece ever manufactured by AP has been logged into these books.





Early pieces were essentially unique and not produced in large quantities.  They were recorded only by their caliber type.





Through the years, additional information was recorded in the books, such as movement numbers, watch reference numbers, pricing, and client information.





Sebastian and Michael next presented an amazing assortment of vintage pieces.  To see their excitement every time they added a new piece to the trays in front of us was special.

Perpetual Calendar pocket watch:





Split seconds pocket watch:









Here is a triple calendar moonphase watch from 1941.  This piece was recently acquired by AP.





I could definitely get used to this smile





Very cool calendar with moonphase watch:





Quite an assortment here:





A Tiffany & Co. jewelry piece:





This perpetual calendar is extremely rare.  It was the first from AP to include the leap year indication, and it was produced in 1957:





A more recent skeletal pocket watch:





Here is an amazing surprise.  This Grande Sonnerie pocket watch was made in collaboration with none other than Philippe Dufour some 30 years ago.  5 pieces were produced.





One of the most breathtaking movements I have ever seen.





Another interesting jewelry piece:





And more pocket watches.  The metal work on these cases is nothing short of amazing.





And the movements are pretty well finished too ;-)





Oh yah... I teased this photo a little while ago.  Have you guessed what is inside this very cool AP box??





How about the 125th Anniversary Grande Sonnerie Cane Watch!  Limited to 1 piece... this one...





Michael's joy in showing us this piece says it all!





And credit to my very good friend Howard Parr for this photo.  We were in a tight space and I was unable to get in close.  Absolutely stunning.





And some more exceptional APs.  Here is the 20th Anniversary Royal Oak piece, with an engraved Royal Oak in the Royal Oak!





The first Royal Oak Concept Watch.  I have held this one before and it is even more amazing the second time around.  I can only imagine how much joy this piece brings to owners.









Stunning perpetual calendar Royal Oak:





Some very cool and unique AP watch boxes on display:





Check out this clock:





All sorts of winding keys and box keys:





Sebastian and Michael really rolled out the red carpet for our group.  Some of the pieces shown above have never been taken out for visitors before.

After wrapping up with that amazing representation of AP's history, we moved over to the Restoration Workshop.  As I have posted before, this area is quite possible my favorite in all of Le Brassus.

The Director of the Restoration Workshop is Francisco Pasandin.  He is an extremely passionate worker, and was quite keen on showing us what they do.  In addition to working on and restoring vintage Audemars Piguet timepieces, the AP Restoration Workshop also restores other vintage pieces from the Vallée de Joux.  AP takes great pride in their history and birthplace, and for the sake of preserving this important past, they feel it their obligation to keep alive all pieces produced in this region.  Many of the pieces they restore might be unique from individual Vallée de Joux watchmakers or brands that no longer exist.





All parts in the workshop are fabricated by hand.  Here we see a drawing for a new minute repeater gong.





Forming the shape:





And testing the tone.  This piece is continually filed and worked until the proper pitch and length are achieved. If the watchmaker goes too far with this process, the piece must be discarded and started all over.





Tools of the trade:





This small torch is as vintage as anything else in the department, and it is still used in heating metals.













I have shared a similar photo of this part before.  Note all of the intricacies of the design.  All of this in a mere 1.6mm!  The finished part is seen under magnification in the case:





And a rather famous image from the Restoration Workshop.  Boxes and boxes of old parts and partially finished watches, many with hand written notes from Jules Audemars and Edward Piguet.





You get chills when Francisco reads these notes aloud.









It is somewhat difficult to find the words to describe the emotions and feelings of standing inside this room.  This space is Audemars Piguet.  It is where the very founders worked on their projects, and countless exceptional watchmakers since.  I remember visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown as a child.  It was a magical experience.  Visiting AP's Restoration Workshop as an adult evokes the same feelings for me.  If you are truly passionate about watchmaking - the designs, the craft, the extraordinary attention to detail - you can be nothing short of awed by this experience.

I would like to offer my sincerest thanks to Sebastian Vivas, Michael Friedman, and Francisco Pasandin.  These gentlemen are very much the modern heartbeat of Audemars Piguet.

This message has been edited by MichaelC on 2014-07-19 13:28:00 This message has been edited by MichaelC on 2014-07-19 13:29:34 This message has been edited by MichaelC on 2014-07-23 06:42:28


More posts: DufourJules AudemarsRoyal OakRoyal Oak Concept

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Great report

 
 By: 111forza : July 20th, 2014-10:06
I was there myself earlier in the year & same as you Michael I was blown away with the work of Sebastian in the restoration department . It really does make you realise what you are buying into when you purchase AP. Loved the old register books of all... 

Glad you were able to visit mercman

 
 By: MichaelC : July 22nd, 2014-06:09
As you know, it is hard to put into words what you feel walking through these historical AP spaces.

Knocked it out of the park!

 
 By: M4 : July 20th, 2014-11:18
Great report Michael. I find this kind of information and photos fascinating. Hope you have another installment coming :-) M4

Thanks M4! I am working on the visit to the modern factory post

 
 By: MichaelC : July 22nd, 2014-06:10
Should get that up late this week. Thanks for reading the articles on the various visits!

Amazing Thread!!

 
 By: emijar3 : July 20th, 2014-11:25
Thanks Michael! The Perpetual Calendar is one of my favorite watches hope some day I can own one... Specially the the rose gold with brown leather strap!! Best, Ernesto

That is a great piece to dream of Ernesto.

 
 By: MichaelC : July 22nd, 2014-06:12
I must admit, this visit really opened my eyes to vintage AP watches. The last few years have found me dreaming on a complicated AP too. Hopefully I can have one of each in the long term...

Thanks for sharing MichaelC.

 
 By: JerryW : July 20th, 2014-19:36
Brings back some great memories from my tour a few years ago. So much history in one place, amazing. Best, JerryW

That sums it up Jerry.

 
 By: MichaelC : July 22nd, 2014-06:13
And that is why it is so special to visit those rooms in person. You feel the history all around you.

From time to time..

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : July 21st, 2014-09:35
that extra special thread appears on PPro and this is sure one of those. Outstanding report Thank you so much Sincerely Damjan

Very kind words Damjan.

 
 By: MichaelC : July 22nd, 2014-06:31
Sincerest thanks to you. I try to share some thoughts behind the photos and hope to convey those as best as possible. It is a real pleasure to share the experiences with everyone here on our forum.

Nice to see you here Njoy!

 
 By: MichaelC : July 22nd, 2014-06:31
Hope all is well your way.

No worries, it says it all...

 
 By: MichaelC : July 22nd, 2014-14:25
That you recognized the work from the photo before you read the line! Thanks for checking out the article doubleup.