Audemars Piguet:
a return to the past

At the 'Seek Beyond: Shaping Materials' exhibition in Milan, Audemars Piguet also presented the new [Re]Master02 and Royal Oak Mini.

The exhibition organised by Audemars Piguet entitled "Seek Beyond: Shaping Materials".hosted at the Quadrilateral Square of Portrait Milano, in the heart of the city of Milan. An immersive journey into the universe of manufacturing, divided into a route through five rooms, with a selection of historical and contemporary pieces.

These include some of the brand's latest creations, that tell the story of relentless research in the field of materials. From gold and platinum, which are precious in themselves, to steel, titanium, carbon and ceramic, which are made precious through the work of craftsmen.

Among the models on display were a series of timepieces dedicated to slimmer wrists that highlight Audemars Piguet's expertise in miniaturisation, of design and setting. And speaking of materials and inspirations from the past, the House recently presented two new models.

[Re]Master02 and Royal Oak Mini: modern reinterpretations

Audemars Piguet reinterprets two models that are part of its heritage, using materials that are the result of the company's continuous research.

The first, a contemporary interpretation of the 20 mm Mini Royal Oak launched in 1997 (the smallest Royal Oak ever made), is a precious trio of watches with a case and bracelet in yellow, white and pink gold, with a Frosted Gold finish, which creates a striking visual effect. The new Royal Oak Minis employ a 23 mm case and a quartz movement, offering more than seven years of autonomy.

The second, homage to an asymmetrical model created by the Maison in 1960 (Ref. 5159BA) and produced in seven examples, one of which is on display today at the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet, is [Re]Master02. Asymmetrical watches marked an important milestone in the history of Audemars Piguet. In particular, In the 1960s, the Maison produced several models inspired by the Brutalism architectural current, with angular geometric shapes and no ornaments. It was also the golden age of asymmetrical watches for the Manufacture, with more than 30 models created between 1959 and 1963, most of them produced in less than ten pieces.

Audemars Piguet [Re]Master02: limited edition

A tribute to Ref. 5159BA of 1960, the [Re]Master02 is produced in a limited edition of only 250 pieces.

The [Re]Master02, produced in a limited edition of 250 pieces, has an asymmetrical 41 mm (by 9.2 mm) rectangular case. And made in the new sandblasted gold alloy, in a shade somewhere between white gold and rose gold.

The deep blue dial defined 'Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50' is divided into twelve different triangles decorated with a linear satin finish. It is moved by the automatic calibre 7129, ultra-thin (only 2.8 mm thick), with 52 hours of power reserve.

Finally, The asymmetry of the case is accentuated by the sapphire crystal, which has a bevel of 15.8° to create greater visual impact. The design of this bevelled crystal took years of research and development to ensure its water resistance (3 atmospheres) and to meet Audemars Piguet's quality requirements.

Prices: Royal Oak Mini, 34,900 euro; [Re]Master02, 47,800 euro.