Audemars Piguet at Watches and Wonders 2014

Sep 30, 2014,10:48 AM
 

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 smile


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 sad




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


More posts: 15202Jules AudemarsMillenaryQuadrienniumRoyal OakRoyal Oak JumboRoyal Oak OffshoreTourbillon Chronograph

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Comments: view entire thread

 

It seems you have a good time in HK...

 
 By: tudorctin : September 30th, 2014-11:36
Thank you for your reports. Constantin

Glad you like them Constantin :)

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : October 1st, 2014-03:05
Hope you can join us in Asia one day :) How's your Montblanc Villeret? Pls share more pics when you have the time :) Cheers robin

awesome pics

 
 By: stevenopoly : September 30th, 2014-11:37
Hello, Thanks for the pictures. I was wondering how big are your wrists because even the 15450 looks huge on you. I have 6.3in wrist and was hoping the 37 would fit.

Thanks for your kind words! My wrist size is around

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : October 1st, 2014-03:06
6+ inch or so (less than 6.5) - very close to yours! Try it and see how you like it. Cheers robin

Robin - THANK YOU!

 
 By: MichaelC : September 30th, 2014-13:13
We all appreciate your special post on AP at W&W 2014! First I have heard of the Millenary Quadriennium! I think it is gorgeous. Love the dial cutouts for the day and month. Very happy for you that you met some of the wonderful folks at Audemars Pigue... 

It's my pleasure Michael :)

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : October 1st, 2014-03:07
No more watch funds for a loooooong time. And I still need to find an AP RO that fits me and that I like (I love the blue dial!) Cheers robin

Fantastic report! :)

 
 By: orangedial : September 30th, 2014-17:05
I'd really love to see these new AP watches soon, especially the ROO Tourbillon Chrono and Millenary Quadriennium! Thanks for bring us to the W&W AP booth, Robin! :D

No problems my friend!

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : October 1st, 2014-03:08
Glad you like it and thank you for your encouraging comments :) Cheers robin

Thank you for the review Robin.....

 
 By: Sandgroper : September 30th, 2014-17:10
I find the RO Offshore Tourbillon calibre particularly interesting in its "automatisation"! Isn't the use of an oscillating weight at the periphery also found in the JLC Master Ultra Thin Minute repeater? I thought JLC came up with this very elegant solut... 

Hi Francois

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : October 1st, 2014-03:09
I am not sure who to credit for this innovation - maybe Nicolas or Michael can help us here. I suspect such an idea came up even earlier with other brands. My pleasure to share W&W with you my friend. Cheers robin

Agree.

 
 By: lhk1 : October 1st, 2014-06:01
I was there on 29th Sept. I was treated professionally well by AP Brand Ambassador. Many thanks to Stephenie from AP Singapore for her hospitality as well. Too many good watches to view. One of my favourite booths. Regards Ling

Glad you had a great experience at the AP booth too Ling

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : October 1st, 2014-10:20
Are you from Malaysia? I am from Singapore. Let me know the next time you visit Singapore and maybe we can catch up cheers robin

It was nice meeting you, Robin.

 
 By: psychotic : October 1st, 2014-06:15
I too spent a great deal of time in the AP booth. Was invited to a back room to try on a couple of trays of watches, including that ROO Tourbillon Chronograph. It's lighter than it looks! I will soon post my own pics of the event. Need to rest now. Spent ... 

Indeed! Great to meet you and your lovely wife!

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : October 1st, 2014-10:22
Hope to see you again soon my friend. It is always heartwarming when PuristS from around the world catch up in person :) Yes, my feet is killing me too! I just finished a Vacheron Constantin dinner and went out for drinks with some friends from Montblanc.... 

Amazing! Thanks for sharing!

 
 By: emijar3 : October 1st, 2014-21:35
Great pics btw! Best!

Thank you!

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : October 2nd, 2014-20:56
And glad you enjoyed it. My camera is not that great to be honest. Time to get a new one! Twice it almost failed on me this trip with the focus. Cheers robin

Great report

 
 By: Colin W : October 3rd, 2014-15:20
Looks like AP make an extra special effort at these events & lots of great looking AP's to play with too.

Thanks Colin

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : October 4th, 2014-01:28
Glad you like it. Indeed AP was very hospitable at the booth. I am not an AP collector nor did I make any appointment. Just walked in and a booth staff came to help me and let me try the new collections :) Cheers Robin

Thanks for the report

 
 By: ED209 : October 5th, 2014-23:07
Nice report Robin. Regards, ED-209

Glad you like it

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : October 6th, 2014-03:16
I actually enjoy sharing with fellow PuristS here :) Cheers Robin

Top notch report!

 
 By: iceheller 1945 ✌️ : March 14th, 2015-21:33
It is alway a pleasure to read yr detail report from yr post on MB to other brands and now to AP, all are full of nice pics and good info. Thanks.

Thank you !

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : March 15th, 2015-18:02
It was a few months ago during watches and wonders in HK 2014. Glad you like the report Cheers Robin