Say hello to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 40th Anniversary watch which will be officially unveiled January 2012 at SIHH in Geneva.  2012 is the 40th anniversary of the iconic Royal Oak, and Audemars Piguet will be producing 40 of these special edition pieces featuring a platinum case and an extra-thin movement (the 3.05mm) that has been meticulously skeletonized.  Like the 1972 model, the 40th anniversary model is presented in a 39mm case size, but the fully visible skeletonized Caliber 5122 stands in stark contrast to the clean, understated dial of the original.  As well, I find it somewhat unfortunate that this is a platinum-cased anniversary model because it is the stainless steel case that made the Royal Oak famous.  Hopefully we will get to see something in steel case in Geneva, because I find it hard to get excited about this piece for a variety of reasons.

Perpetuelle SIHH 2012 Previews >>> Panerai PAM 422, Girard-Perregaux 1966 Small Second, Piaget Altiplano Skeleton Automatic, Cartier Cadran Lové Tourbillon

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 40th Anniversary Watch

Limited Edition 40 pieces

39mm platinum case, automatic mechanical Audemars Piguet Caliber 5122 (3.05mm thick)

manual finishing of the bridge (polished bevels, satinbrushed edges, perlage on the recesses), 22K gold monobloc oscillating weight stamped with the raised inscription “ AP Royal Oak 1972-2012″ and with “tapisserie” motif on it external segment.

REFERENCE: 15203PT.OO.1240PT.01

Audemars Piguet Japan recently announced a broad-based fund-raising initiative to aid the victims of the March 11th Tohoku earthquake in Northern Japan.  Its “SUPPORT JAPAN” effort is a long-range plan projected to raise 100 million yen (~$1.3 million) to be donated to the Japanese Red Cross.  To this end, AP Japan has launched a limited edition Royal Oak Offshore watch, the “GINZA 7″.  200 pieces will be made in forged carbon case, and also a stainless steel model will be produced (quantity unknown).  Ten percent of sales of the special edition watch will be donated to SUPPORT JAPAN.    Also, 40 original Audemars Piguet clocks signed by world famous celebrities and AP ambassadors will auctioned off (see below).  Learn and see more at http://www.audemarspiguet-ginza.jp/supportjapan/index.html

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore GINZA 7 Forged Carbon

close-up of the stainless steel version:

Signed Audemars Piguet Wall Clocks:

Lionel Messi (Soccer)

Lebron James (Basketball)

Darren Clarke (Golfer)

Rory McIlory (Golfer)

Audemars Piguet on a winning streak!  Darren Clarke is the third Audemars Piguet ambassador to win a golf Grand Slam tournament in the last 14 months, following in the footsteps of Rory Mcllroy (US Open 2011) and Graeme McDowell (US Open 2010).  On Sunday July 17th, he claimed victory in the British Open, his maiden Major win.  Interestingly, and as learned via a Graeme McDowell Tweet (nice catch Hodinkee), Clarke was seen wearing watch an ultra-light titanium Audemars Piguet Royal Oak prototype.  Turns out Bubba Watson is not the only one with a fancy schmancy watch now!  Congrats to Clarke and Audemars Piguet!

2011 British Open Winner Darren Clarke

Graeme McDowell Tweet:

” Check out the watch both Darren and Miguel are wearing. New prototype titanium Audemars Piguet golf watch. #AP #quality http://img.ly/6kHi “

My ONLY Watch 2011 previews continue with a first look at the Audemars Piguet Gstaad Classic “Only Watch 2011″ edition.  Like Harry Winston (whose Midnight GMT Tourbillon I profiled yesterday), this is Audemars Piguet’s fourth time participating in the Only Watch auction.  This “Jules Audemars Gstaad Classic” features a pink gold case, specially engraved caseback, and a dial that is inspired by the 1920s (for a “discreetly vintage touch”).  While this piece is definitely not the most exciting or creative piece in the ONLY Watch 2011 lineup, it is nonetheless a nice looking watch.

Audemars Piguet Gstaad Classic for Only Watch 2011

Unique Piece

automatic mechanical 18-carat pink gold chronograph with central sweep seconds hand, 30-minute counter and small seconds at 9 and 3 o’clock respectively

Caseback engraved with the legend “Audemars Piguet Only Watch”, with the “Gstaad Classic” logo and “2011” in the centre

Rising golf star Rory McIlroy won the U.S. Open on Sunday, June 19th with the lowest score in the tournament’s 111-year history.  At 22 years old, he was the event’s youngest winner since the legendary Bobby Jones won the event in 1923.  After McIlroy’s devastating meltdown at the Masters tournament earlier this year, the victory at Congressional must be even sweeter.   The event was also a huge win for prestigious Swiss-watch manufacture Audemars Piguet — Rory McIlroy is an Ambassador of the brand, as is Lee Westwood of England (Westwood tied for 3rd place).

Congrats to Rory McIlroy and Audemars Piguet!

U.S. Open Champion and Audemars Piguet Ambassador Rory McIlroy

Shown wearing the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph Ref 26300ST

“Only Watch” is a biennial charity auction of one-of-a-kind watches created by many of the most renowned watch brands in Switzerland.  This exceptional event is held every two years in Monaco during the Monaco Yacht Show and is under the patronage of HSH Prince Albert II.   All the proceeds from Only Watch go to support Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research which is why many of these watches go extraordinarily high prices.

Starting today Perpetuelle will begin its coverage of Only Watch 2011.  Stay tuned in because over the next few months, you will get to see awesome “piece unique” watches from each of the participating brands for the 2011 event:

Click through to see our in-depth preview of each watch:

• Harry Winston Midnight GMT Tourbillon
• Patek Philippe Ref 3939A Minute Repeater
• Urwerk UR-103 “Phoenix”
• Romain Jerome “Rock the Rock”
• Hublot Oceanographic 4000m dive watch
• MB&F HM-4 “Flying Panda”
• TAG Heuer “Monaco Mikrograph”
• Bell & Ross Pink Gold “Casino”
• Louis Vuitton Tambour Diver Chronograph
• Blancpain Villeret Grand Decoration
• Piaget Altiplano Skeleton
• Breguet Reveil Musical Watch
• Audemars Piguet Gstaad Classic
• Jaquet Droz Petit Heure Minute
• Van Cleef & Arpel “From the Earth to the Moon” Watch
• Girard-Perregaux ww.TC
• Corum Golden Bridge Automatic Titanium
  
• Vulcain Anniversary Heart Watch
• Chanel J12 Marine Watch
• Franck Muller “Totally Switzerland”
• Ulysse Nardin Freak Diavolo
• Vacheron Constantin “Dove” Watch (M.C. Escher-inspired)
  
• Zenith El Primero “Destro” watches
• Montblanc Villeret 1858 Pulsograph
• Ikepod Red Hourglass by Marc Newson
• Bovet Fleurier, Celsius, Chaumet, Chopard, De Bethune, Delacour, De Witt, Frédérique Constant, Hermès, Laurent Ferrier, Maurice Lacroix, Richard Mille
  

Only Watch 2011 will be held September 24, 2011 and managed by watch auction house Antiquorum.  But you don’t have to wait this long — because part of the excitement leading up to the September 24, 2011 event is the release of each participating brand’s special edition watch.

ONLY WATCH 2009

If you are interested in looking back, I covered the Only Watch 2009 auction extensively including blogging about several of my favorites inlcluding:  Piaget Emperador Coussin, MB&F Sage Vaughn HM-2, Bovet 3-in-1 Mona Lisa Watch, Tourneau Jump Hour, Louis Vuitton Tambour, Chanel J12 Joallerie with pink sapphire, and Blancpain 500 Fathoms.   You can see all 34 “Only Watch 2009″ watches here on the Perpeuelle World Watch Forum.  The Only Watch 2009 auction was hosted by Patrizzi & Co.

Say What???

As you might have already guessed, this article is somewhat off the beaten path of horology.  Now and again I come across interesting “one-off” watches worthy of a mention, and today is such a time.  The last obscure watch that I recall covering is a Patek 5180T (see: Two Titanium Patek’s You Didn’t Know Existed).  Even though though the aforementioned Patek 5180T was a highly skeletonized work of art, I must say that it lacks the true holiness of today’s find — an Audemars Piguet Millenary that is to be gifted to Pope Benedict XVI just days from now.

The story is that Vatican Radio, the radio commissioned by Pius XI to amplify  “the voice of the Pope and the Catholic Church in dialogue with the world”, turned 80 years old this year, and to commemorate the event Vatican Radio has chosen to donate to Pope Benedict XVI a special Audemars Piguet watch. The white gold Audemars Piguet Millenary, engraved with the words “AB XVI – 80° RADIO VATICANA – 1931 – 2011″, will be presented to the Vatican on April 30.  The pressing question is, will the Pope actually wear this watch?  My guess is that it will be tucked away into the Papal archives.   The thought of the Pope wristing an Audemars Piguet during Sunday church seems well, weird, doesn’t it?

Via:  Orologio Blog (Italy).

The “Vatican Radio” Audemars Piguet Millenary for the Pope

Pope Benedict XVI (2010)

Slam Dunk!

Miami, FL -  NBA Superstar Lebron James has signed on with Audemars Piguet in yet another high profile partnership for the elite Swiss watch brand.  Lebron James is no stranger to Audemars Piguet, having been photographed several times wearing one of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Offshore collection.  As far as the partnership goes, Lebron James’ signature smile will no doubt be seen in Audemars Piguet marketing materials, and within the next 1-2 years Watch Fans can expect a limited-edition Audemars Piguet “Lebron James” edition watch.  James is pictured below wearing the new and very sporty Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver (Ref 15703), a good choice in watches if there ever was one

Find more about Mayors used watches!

Lebron James Wearing a Royal Oak Offshore Diver (Ref 15703)

“Audemars Piguet and I strive for excellence in all our endeavors,” Lebron said on the Audemars Piguet website. “I am honored to be the next global brand ambassador and join the ranks of industry greats who have previously represented the brand. I am also excited to collaborate with AP on an exclusive timepiece that will be the ultimate symbol of our partnership.”

Lebron James Wearing a Royal Oak Offshore Diver (Ref 15703)

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Audemars Piguet has been doing great things with its Millenary Collection…and here they go again!  Serving as Official Timekeeper of the Tour Auto for the sixth year running (this year’s event is in April), Audemars Piguet is again launching a limited edition watch to commemorate the event.  This year:  a 150-piece limited, numbered Audemars Piguet Millenary Chronograph.  With its distinctly retro touch, the 2011 Audemars Piguet Millenary Tour Auto Chronograph masterfully captures the vintage spirit of the Tour Auto race.  It is also a nice changeup from last year’s Tour Auto watch, a Royal Oak Offshore.

Audemars Piguet Millenary Watch for Tour Auto 2011

150 numbered pieces

This new timepiece equipped with an extremely reliable chronograph movement has a 40-hour power reserve and a balance beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour. Its black dial is circled by a flange with a tachometric scale and features silver-toned hour, minute and seconds counters. The openworked dial area echoes a classic automobile theme, with circular-grained surfaces reminiscent of the finish on certain historical cars.

Representing the first generation of Millenary watches to be fitted with a steel case, this model is stamped on the caseback – like its predecessors – with the Tour Auto logo and bears the inscription “Millenary – Série Limitée”. Finally, the Millenary Tour Auto 2011 is fitted with a hand-sewn black leather strap with lozenge-pattern stitching and is delivered in a dedicated presentation box.

While it’s not the “Official Timekeeper of Formula One Racing“, Audemars Piguet enjoys well-established ties with the automobile world.  It has been partnering of the Tour Auto for many years and the Audemars Piguet Gstaad Classic in Switzerland since 2009, while its circle of ambassadors includes several drivers such as Jarno Trulli (Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Jarno Trulli Chrono), Sébastien Buemi and more recently Michael Schumacher (announcement here).

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More than one brand has announced a “dual time” watch at this SIHH this year.   I showed you the JLC Grande Reverso Duo just moments ago, and here now is the Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Dual Time.  Available in 3 different color schemes (all of which you can see HERE), pictured here is my favorite, Ref. 26380OR.  The functions you see on the dial are hours/minutes, date (sub-dial at 2 o’clock), second timezone with day/night display, and a power reserve indication on the left side of the dial.

The one comment I do have on this watch regards the power reserve indicator.  In general I find power-reserve indicators to be an odd function for automatic watches.  Manual-wind watches, sure, no problem.  In fact when I highlight the specs for a particular watch here on the blog, you may have noticed that I only note the power reserve if it is a manual wind movement.  My reason for this is that I figure — at least if you are wearing it — that power reserve is of no consequence on an automatic watch because it is constantly being wound!  If you have a thought on this please leave a comment below.

Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Dual Time

41mm pink-gold case (9.25mm thick), black dial with applied pink gold hour markers, and black alligator strap with AP folding clasp.  The movement is an automatic AP Caliber 2329/2846